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MESMERISM    IN  INDIA 


PRACTICAL    APPLICATION    IN   SURGERY 
AND   MEDICINE. 


JAMES  ESDAILE,  M.  D., 

CIVIL  ASSISTANT  SURGEON,   H.   C.  S.,  BENGAL. 


"I  rather  choose  to  endure  the  wounds  of  those  darts  which   envy  casteth   at   novelty, 
than  to  go  on  safely  and  sleepily  in  the  easy  ways  of  ancient  mistakings. — Raleigh, 


UMIVFR-^.TY 

OF 


AMERICAN  EDITION 

PRINTED   BY 

THE  PSYCHIC  RESEARCH  COMPANY, 

THE    COLONNADES, 

ViNCENNES  Ave.,  CHICAGO. 


iiolpUBI 


OOPTRIGHT.   1902,   BT 

THE  PSYCHIC  RESEARCH  COMPANY 

CHICAGO  AND  LONDON. 


PREFACE  TO  THIS  EDITION. 


There  is  a  frankness,  an  absence  of  art,  about  this  book  which  makes 
its  testimony  to  the  power  of  mind  over  matter  of  double  worth.  No  one 
may  question  the  facts  here  recorded.  They  are  FACTS,  and  they  are 
recorded,  as  Truth  should  be,  in  simple  speech. 

It  may  be  asked  by  the  non-professional  reader  if  it  was  necessary  to 
present  to  the  laity  this  record  of  the  somewhat  sickening  surgical  opera- 
tions performed  painlessly  by  Dr.   Esdaile  sixty  odd  years  ago  in  India. 

Our  answer  is  that  this  is  Dr.  Esdaile's  book,  as  he  wrote  it,  and  as  he 
would  wish  it  to  be  reprinted  were  he  alive  today.  It  will  be  very  easy  for 
the  lay-reader  to  skip  those  portions  which  oflfend  his  taste.  He  will  find 
sufficient  other  matter  in  these  pages  to  repay  his  close  attention.  The 
Psychic  Research  Company  has  rescued  this  book  from  oblivion  because 
it  contains  the  simplest,  clearest  and  most  convincing  data  on  the  power  of 
the  mind  to  control  agonizing  pain. 

It  is  nothing  that  we  disagree  with  Dr.  Esdaile  touching  the  nature  of 
the  power  or  force  manifested.  To  Dr.  Esdaile  the  marvel  lay  in  the 
thing — Mesmerism ;  in  the  operator,  or  mesmerizer.  To  us  this  book  is 
clearest  evidence  of  the  power  that  lies  in  the  subject — the  mesmerized 
person.  To  the  author  his  work  was  a  tribute  to  the  power  of  a  man  to 
help  his  fellow.  To  use  it  is  a  promise  of  the  time  to  come  when  man 
shall  help  himself.  The  full  importance  of  this  collection  of  facts  can  only 
be  appreciated  when  we  grasp  the  idea  that  all  the  phenomena  here  pro- 
duced by  mesmerism  are  capable  of  reproduction  by  auto-suggestion.  The 
control  of  pain;  the  restoration  to  health,  &c.,  are  effects  which  man,  with- 
out the  aid  of  another,  can,  and  some  day  shall  perfectly,  accomplish  in  him- 
self by  the  power  of  his  own  will  while  he  is  in  a  normal  waking  condition. 

Let  us  honor  the  man  who  blazed  the  path.  We  have  little  to  do  now 
but  cut  away  the  underbrush.  SYDNEY  FLOWER, 

The  Psychic  Research  Company. 
Chicago,  May,  1902. 


ENGLISH  EDITOR'S  PREFACE. 


Appearing  before  the  public  as  the  Editor  of  a  work  on  Mesmerism, 
I  trust  I  may  be  pardoned  for  alluding  to  the  circumstances  under  which 
I  have  been  called  upon  to  undertake  such  a  duty.  Several  months 
ago  my  brother,  a  medical  officer  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany, surprised  me  by  announcing  that  he  had  now  found  something  to 
dispel  the  cmiui  of  Indian  life,  and  that  his  mission  was  to  become  "the 
Apostle  of  Mesmerism  in  India."  More  than  twelve  years  ago,  my  atten- 
tion had  been  arrested  by  reading  M.  Cloquet's  account  of  his  having 
removed  a  cancerous  breast  from  a  lady  while  in  the  mesmeric  trance, 
and  by  his  certifying  her  insensibility  to  pain.  Knowing  the  eminence 
of  M.  Cloquet  as  a  surgeon,  and  his  reputation  as  a  man  of  veracity,  I  was 
constrained  to  believe  in  the  reality  of  the  mysterious  agent  denominated 
Mesmerism,  or  Animal  Magnetism;  and  my  belief  was  confirmed  by 
the  fact  of  the  operator  not  being  a  believer  in  Mesmerism.  From  that 
hour  I  never  doubted  that  many  things,  scouted  by  most  people  as  frauds 
or  delusions,  were  merely  new  manifestations  of  this  incomprehensible 
power.  The  evidence  w-as  so  strong,  that  incredulity  seemed  irrational. 
Professional  avocations  hindered  me  paying  further  attention  to  the  sub- 
ject; and  I  had  almost  ceased  to  think  of  Mesmerism  when  it  was  again 
unexpectedly  brought  before  me  by  my  brother.  Being  thoroughly  con- 
vinced of  his  honesty,  as  well  as  of  his  ability  to  detect  imposture,  I  read 
his  communications,  transmitted  from  time  to  time,  with  the  liveliest 
interest,  and  rejoiced  to  be  at  length  informed  that  he  was  about  to  com- 
municate his  experience  to  the  public ;  and  that  he  relied  on  my  services  in 
seeing  his  work  through  the  press,  and  in  making  any  necessary  alterations 
in  the  MS. 

A  determination  to  know  the  truth,  and  to  afford  to  others  the  oppor- 
tunity of  investigating  it  for  themselves,  has  induced  me  to  read  my 
brother's  work  with  care,  and  to  undertake  the  responsibility  of  prepar- 
ing it  for  the  press.  In  justice  to  him  I  must  add,  that  the  only  alterations 
I  have  made  in  the  MS.  have  been  merely  verbal ;  so  that  whatever  merit 
is  due  to  the  work,  either  as  a  literary  performance,  or  a  philosophical 
treatise  upon  an  imperfectly  understood  branch  of  science,  none  of  it  be- 
longs to  me. 

While  he  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that  his  literary  oflfspring  has  as- 
sumed so  little  of  the  aspect  of  a  changeling,  by  being  transferred  to  my 
care,  I  fear  that  on  another  point  he  will  be  mortified,  and  that   some 


ENGLISH    editor's    PREFACE.  5 

of  his  readers  will  share  in  his  regret.  His  MS.  was  accompanied  by 
nine  beautifully  executed  drawings,  also  intended  for  publication.  After 
consulting  with  friends  interested  in  Mesmerism,  it  has  been  resolved 
that  these  drawings  shall  not  be  published.  They  are  very  striking;  but, 
unfortunately,  their  very  fidelity  is  a  reason  for  their  non-publication,  for, 
assuredly,  they  are  fitted  to  shock  the  delicate,  who  are  unaccustomed  to 
witness  the  fearful  ravages  of  disease  on  the  human  frame.  Moreover,  to 
publish  them  would  add  materially  to  the  price  of  the  work— a  result 
which  would  frustrate,  to  some  extent  at  least,  the  object  of  the  author, 
who  obviously  desires  that  the  British  public  shall  have  every  facility  in 
procuring  information  regarding  the  derided  science  of  which,  and  with 
such  good  reason,   he  is  so  decided  an  advocate. 

On  the  probable  reception  of  the  work  in  this  country,  it  may  be 
imprudent  to  speculate ;  but  I  cannot  help  hoping  that  the  evident  honesty 
of  the  writer,  and  his  willingness  to  receive  assistance,  even  from  his 
opponents,  in  detecting  the  imposture  of  Mesmerism,  if  imposture  it  be, 
will  conciliate  the  most  incredulous,  and  induce  them  calmly  to  examine 
a  multitude  of  facts  accumulated  by  a  man  who  has  never  been  suspected 
to  be  either  a  knave  or  a  fool.  Every  body  is  alike  interested  in  fair 
play  being  afforded  to  the  propounders  of  the  strange  facts  and  theo- 
ries connected  with  Mesmerism.  It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind,  that  it  may 
be  used  for  evil  as  well  as  for  good;  and  that,  if  we  obstinately  refuse 
even  to  examine  the  subject,  we  expose  ourselves,  defenceless,  to  the 
abuse  of  a  power  capable  of  being  perverted  to  the  most  nefarious  ends. 
This,  perhaps,  will  not  be  reckoned  a  fanciful  danger  by  those  who 
carefully  peruse  the  author's  remarks  on  the  singular  trial  for  the  abduc- 
tion of  a  boy.  And  if  from  this  case,  corroborated  by  the  general  im- 
pression in  India  of  the  frequency  of  far  more  detestable  crimes,  the  public 
arrive  at  the  conviction  that  Mesmerism  is  a  terrible  engine  in  the  hands 
of  a  villain,  as  we  have  good  reason  for  believing  it  to  be,  surely  our 
legislators,  who  spend  laborious  nights  in  perfecting  bills  of  pains  and 
penalties  against  the  felonious  abductors  of  favourite  poodles  and  the 
various  members  of  the  canine  race,  will  see  it  to  be  their  duty  to  make 
the  practice  of  Mesmerism  penal,  save  by  regularly  educated  medical 
men.  If  my  brother's  book  does  nothing  more  than  arouse  the  public  to  a 
sense  of  danger,  it  will  not  have  been  written  in  vain.  Small  as  is  my 
personal  experience  of  Mesmerism,  I  have  yet,  with  my  own  hands,  done 
enough  to  impress  me  with  a  profound  conviction  that,  manifold  as  are 
the  blessings  it  confers,  it  must  be  used  with  care,  and  that  it  is  a  most 
formidable  source  of  mischief  in  the  hands  of  the  ignorant  and  the  un- 
principled. In  a  note,  in  the  body  of  the  work,  will  be  found  an  account 
of  the  influence  I  exerted  over  a  young  gentleman  in  London.  I  can  now 
relate  a  still  more  striking  case.  When  lately  inviting  a  lady  to  pay  me  a 
visit,  I  thus  wrote  to  her :— "Unbeliever  in  Mesmerism  as  you  are,  I  hope 
to  convince  you  of  its  reality  by  setting  you  asleep."  In  her  reply  she 
observed :— "You  will,  indeed,  find  me  hard  to  be  convinced;  but  if  you 


6  ENGLISH    EDITOR  S    PREFACE. 

can  procure  ine  refreshing  sleep,  it  will  be  the  greatest  blessing,  for  I  have 
not  had  a  sound  sleep  for  eighteen  months.''  Knowing  the  anguish  she 
had  endured  by  family  bereavements,  and  that  her  health  was  much  im- 
paired, a  desire  to  relieve  her  sufferings  made  me  resolve  to  try  whether 
she  could  be  brought  under  the  influence  of  Mesmerism.  An  opportunity 
presented  itself  shortly  after  her  arrival  here.  On  the  evening  of  the  Qth 
of  this  month  (June,)  the  oppressive  heat  of  the  weather  rendered  her 
languid ;  her  voice  was  very  rough,  and  she  was  evidently  labouring  under 
a  slight  attack  of  bronchitis.  Believing  that  the  inflammation  might  be 
subdued  by  means  of  Mesmerism,  I  requested  permission  to  try  its  efficacy. 
This  having  been  kindly  granted,  I  subjected  her  to  the  usual  manipulation 
for  half  an  hour.  She  became  perfectly  placid,  but  did  not  fall  asleep ; 
she  was  merely  drowsy,  and  disinclined  to  rise.  No  marked  symptoms 
having  been  exhibited,  I  concluded  that  the  experiment  had  failed ;  but, 
next  morning,  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to  learn  that  she  had  passed  a 
most  comfortable  night,  and  had  slept  for  seven  hours  and  a  half  without 
waking.  Her  voice  also  was  clear,  the  expression  of  languor  had  left  her 
countenance,  and  she  felt  so  well  that  she  ventured  to  dine  at  the  house 
of  a  friend,  distant  three  miles  from  the  Manse.  Whatever  was  the  cause 
of  the  improvement,  I  was  delighted  to  see  my  friend  evidently  better,  and 
resolved  again  to  mesmerise  'her.  On  our  return  from  a  saunter  in  the 
garden,  on  the  evening  of  the  nth  (June.)  she  lay  down  on  the  sofa, 
waiting  the  entrance  of  the  servants  to  prayers.  As  they  happened  to  be 
longer  in  coming  than  we  expected,  I  said  "Suppose  I  try  to  mesmerise 
you?"  The  reply  being  "Very  well,"  I  commenced  my  manipulations  at 
five  minutes  before  ten.  Before  that  hour  struck,  we  had  the  following 
conversation.  "Oh !  I  am  very  sleepy."  "Do  you  really  think  I  am  exert- 
ing any  influence  over  you?"  "How  can  I  doubt  it?  I  never  felt  this  way 
before.  I  am  in  a  state  of  the  most  delightful  placidity." — "Why,  then,  I 
had  better  put  off  the  prayers,  and  keep  the  house  quiet  for 
a  little." — "No,  no,  don't  do  that.  I  am  very  drowsy,"  and 
with  these  words  she  relinquished  the  attempt  to  rise,  and  sank  her  head  on 
the  pillow.  Having  slipped  out  of  the  room,  and  ordered  no  noise  to  be 
made,  I  found  her  on  my  return  still  very  somnolent,  and,  without  saying 
another  word,  proceeded  with  my  manipulations  for  twenty  minutes.  I 
then  spoke,  and,  receiving  no  answer,  proceeded  to  get  a  witness  of  my 
subsequent  doings.  Calling  my  housekeeper,  I  said — "Come  and  try  if  you 
can  waken  Mrs.  C:  I  have  mesmerised  her,  I  think."  She  tried  every 
means  so  to  do,  but  in  vain.  Her  respect  for  the  lady  would  not  allow  her 
to  obey  my  order  to  prick  her  with  a  pin ;  I  therefore  took  a  sharp-pointed 
instrument,  and  pricked  her  hand  till  the  marks  were  visible.  No  uneasi- 
ness being  manifested,  I  was  now  certain  that  the  mesmeric  sleep  was 
established,  and  proceeded  to  test  its  intensity  by  loudly  calling,  and  clap- 
ping my  hands  clo;;c  to  the  face  of  the  sleeper.  Not  a  feature  moved; 
and  the  exquisitely  placid  countenance  of  my  entranced  friend  will  long 
live  in  my  memory. 


ENGLISH    KDITOR  S    PRIi:FACE.  7 

As  she  was  laid  on  a  sofa  in  the  dining-room,  I  could  not  permit  her 
to  remain  there  without  sitting  up  all  night  to  watch  her,  or  causing  my 
servants  to  do  so.  Circumstances  rendering  this  inconvenient,  I  proceeded, 
at  II  o'clock,  to  demesmerise  her.  This  proved  a  work  of  the  greatest 
difficulty:  for  half  an  hour  I  used  all  the  methods  resorted  to  by  the  mes- 
merists, but  with  hardly  any  success.  Being  resolved,  however,  to  break 
in  upon  her  repose,  I  applied  the  strongest  smelling  salts  to  her  nostrils, 
threw  cold  water  on  her  face,  and  blew  upon  it  with  a  pair  of  bellows. 
This  rough  usage  roused  her  a  little;  but  even  after  I  got  her  to  sit  up, 
she  fell  helplessly  into  my  arms,  and,  if  let  alone,  would  instantly  have  been 
as  fast  asleep  as  ever. 

On  questioning  her  next  morning,  she  could  give  no  account  of  what 
had  happened.  She  only  remembered  that  she  lay  down,  and  that  I  soon 
made  her  very  drowsy.  She  acknowledged  that  I  might  have  done  with 
her  whatever  I  chose,  and  expressed  her  conviction  that  had  I  amputated 
a  limb,  she  would  have  been  unconscious  of  the  operation.  What  a  power, 
then,  is  this  for  evil  as  well  as  for  good  I  How  foolish  in  people  to  expose 
themselves  to  the  machinations  of  the  wicked,  by  treating  Mesmerism  as 
a  fraud  or  a  delusion !  It  is  a  fact,  proved  by  incontestable  evidence ;  and 
capable  of  being  applied  to  the  relief  of  suffering  humanity,  or  perverted 
so  as  to  accomplish  the  designs  of  villainy.  As  a  clergyman,  I  shall  be 
happy  to  apply  it,  gratuitously  for  the  relief  of  the  sick,  until  medical  men 
become  convinced  of  the  therapeutic  value  of  Mesmerism,  and  introduce 
it  into  their  practice.  And  for  the  encouragement  of  non-professional  per- 
sons, who,  like  myself,  are  anxious  to  investigate  the  truth,  I  am  glad  to 
be  able  to  state  that  a  benevolent  bishop  in  England,  and  his  amiable  fam- 
ily, are  successfully  employed  in  relieving  the  afflicted;  and  that  my  friend 
Mrs.  C.  expresses  the  warmest  gratitude  for  the  benefit  she  has  derived 
from  my  mesmeric  treatment. 

The  above  remarks  are  for  the  general  reader.  I  would  now  respect- 
fully invite  the  attention  of  the  medical  profession  to  the  facts  detailed 
by  my  brother.  He  is  neither  a  quack  nor  an  enthusiast,  but  a  regularly 
educated,  truth-loving  physician,  whose  reputation  for  talent  and  honesty 
is  unquestionable.  The  facts  he  adduces  cannot  be  controverted,  and,  as 
I  was  happy  to  learn  from  a  medical  man  just  arrived  from  Hooghly,  are 
admitted  both  by  Europeans  and  natives,  on  the  spot  where  they  occurred. 
If  he,  then,  in  eight  months,  has  performed  no  less  than  seventy-six  opera- 
tions, besides  relieving  eighteen  medical  cases,  how  can  medical  men  in 
this  country  justify  their  heartless  apathy  in  regard  to  Mesmerism?  It  is 
a  fact,  in  the  highest  degree  disgraceful  to  them,  that  our  doctors  will  not 
be  persuaded  even  to  try  whether  their  patients  can  be  benefitted  by  the 
mesmeric  agency.  They  insist  on  going  on  inflicting  tortures,  without  an 
attempt  to  ascertain  whether  they  may  not  be  obviated  by  Mesmerism.  The 
Royal  Medical  and  Chirurgical  Society  of  London  permitted  Dr.  Copland, 
without  a  word  of  disapprobation,  to   declare  that  "pain  is  a  wise  pro- 


8  ENGLISH    editor's    PREFACE. 

vision  of  nature ;  and  patients  ought  to  sutYer  pain  while  their  surgeon  is 
operating;  they  are  all  the  better  for  it,  and  recover  better."  A  London 
dentist  has  announced  that  several  of  his  fraternity  have  resolved  not  to 
extract  the  teeth  of  persons  in  the  mesmeric  sleep!  By  this  combination 
of  doctors  and  dentists,  we  are  threatened  with  the  infliction  of  pain, 
whenever  we  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  their  hands ;  and  our 
agonies  are  to  be  soothed  by  Dr.  Copland's  pious  assurance  that  pain  is  a 
wise  infliction  intended  for  good !  Let  others  do  as  they  please,  for  my- 
self I  shall  only  say,  that,  having  twice  suflfered  under  the  surgeon's  knife, 
all  the  doctors  in  Europe  shall  not  persuade  me  to  permit  them  again  to 
mangle  my  "pleasant  flesh,"  until  a  persevering  attempt  has  been  made 
to  reduce  me  to  insensibility  by  means  of  Mesmerism.  As  the  best  per- 
suasive to  induce  sufferers  to  form  a  similar  resolution,  I  request  their 
attention  to  the  subjoined  resume  of  my  brother's  mesmeric  practice,  as 
published  by  him  in  a  Calcutta  newspaper,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure 
for  the  army  of  the  Punjaub. 

It  now  only  remains  that  I  should  publicly  offer  my  warmest  thanks 
to  Dr.  Gregory,  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh, 
and  to  Mr.  Colquhoun,  author  of  "Isis  Revelata,"  and  many  other  well- 
known  works,  for  the  highly  flattering  commendations  they  have  bestowed 
on  my  brother's  labours,  and  for  many  friendly  and  generous  communica- 
tions addressed  to  myself.  David  Esd.\:le. 

Manse  of  Rescobie,  Forfar, 
13th  June,  1846. 

Postscript.     19th  June. — To-day  I  have  had  a  new  proof  of  the  value 

of  Mesmerism  in  relieving  the  sick.     I  was  visiting  Isabel  A ,  a  young 

woman  recovering  from  fever ;  the  fever  had  left  her,  but  the  second 
night  before  I  saw  her  an  attack  of  inflammation  in  the  breast  had  rendered 
necessary  the  application  of  leeches.  I  found  her  in  pain  from  the  inflam- 
mation, and  also  from  toothache,  and  complaining  of  inability  to  sleep.  In 
ten  minutes  I  threw  her  into  the  mesmeric  trance ;  this  was  at  9  p.  m.  :  she 
awoke  at  2  a.  m.,  refreshed  and  hungry.  23d. — The  change  of  weather 
has  injured  my  relative,  Mrs.  C.  This  evening  she  had  a  dreadful  cough, 
which  banished  sleep,  and  gave  her  much  pain.  I  proceeded  to  mesmerise 
her  in  the  usual  way :  the  paroxysms  of  the  cough  rendered  the  process 
more  laborious  than  formerly ;  at  last  I  succeeded  in  allaying  the  spasmodic 
motions  of  the  thorax,  by  placing  my  fingers  on  her  throat,  and  breathing 
continuously  on  the  spot  which  appeared  to  be  the  seat  of  the  irritation 
which  annoyed  her.  In  half  an  hour  she  was  fast  asleep ;  she  slept  two 
hours,  and  awoke  refreshed.  The  cough  had  left  her,  and  has  not  returned 
at  this  date  (25th  June).  These  are  facts;  and  I  record  them  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  suffering.  Let  sceptics  scoff,  and  doctors  talk  of  danger:  I  have 
alleviated  pain ;  and  any  one  who  will  honestly  make  the  attempt  may  do 
the  same. — D.  E. 


TO  THE 

REV.  JAMES  ESDAILE,  D.  D. 

My  Dear  Father, 

However  new  and  strange  the  subject  of  this  work  may  be  to  you,  I 
am  sure  that  it  will  afford  you  pleasure  to  know  that  I  have  introduced, 
and  I  hope  I  may  say  established,  a  new  and  powerful  means  of  alleviating 
human  suffering  among  the  natives  of  Bengal. 

I  shall  soon  ascertain  to  what  extent  other  varieties  of  mankind  are 
capable  of  benefitting  by  this  natural  curative  power,  as  I  am  ordered  to 
join  the  army  in  the  field,  and  depart  tomorrow,  by  dak,  a  journey  of 
eleven  hundred  miles  ! 

I  am,  your  affectionate  son, 

James  Esdaile. 

HooGHLY,  Feb.   1st,  1846. 


U^'!VERSlTY 


PREFACE. 


If  this  production  should  be  unfortunate  enough  to  attract  attention  at 
home,  I  hope  that  criticism  will  be  chiefly  expended  upon  a  careful 
examination  of  the  alleged  facts,  and  their  practical  application  to  the 
improvement  of  Surgery  and  Medicine. 

What  I  now  ofTer  to  the  public  is  the  result  of  only  eight  months' 
mesmeric  practice,  in  a  country  charity  hospital ;  but  it  has  been  sufficient 
to  demonstrate  the  singular  and  most  beneficial  influence  that  Mesmerism 
exerts  over  the  constitution  of  the  people  of  Bengal,  and  that  painless 
surgical  operations,  and  other  medical  advantages,  are  their  natural  birth- 
right ;  of  which  I  hope  they  will  be  no  longer  deprived. 

Duty  calls  me  to  another  and  more  extensive  field,  (the  Civil  Sur- 
geons being  ordered  to  join  the  army  of  the  Sutlej.)  where  I  hope  to  work 
out  this  curious  and  interesting  subject  in  all  its  practical  bearings,  and  to 
live  to  communicate  my  experience  to  the  public. 

HoGghly,  Feb.  ist,  1846. 


10 


MESMERIC    FACTS. 

REPORTED  BY  JAMES  ESDAILE,  M.  D. 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Englishman. 

Sir, — Before  proceeding  to  join  the  armj-,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  send 
you  a  "resume"  of  my  mesmeric  practice  during  the  last  eight  months. 

My  experience  has  demonstrated  the  singular  and  beneficial  influence  ex- 
erted by  Mesmerism  over  the  constitution  of  the  natives  of  Bengal,  and 
that  painless  surgical  operations,  with  other  advantages,  are  their  natural 
birthright,  of  which  they  will  no  longer  be  deprived,  I  hope. 

Duty  calls  me  to  another  and  more  extensive  field,  where  I  hope  to 
work  out  this  curious  and  interesting  subject  in  all  its  practical  details, 
and  to  ascertain  to  what  extent  other  varieties  of  mankind  are  capable  of 
being  benefitted  by  this  natural  curative  power. 

I  am,  your  obedient  servant. 

James  Esdaii.e,  M.  D. 

Hooghly,  22d  Jan.,  1846. 


i^  REPORT  OF 


A  Return  showing  the  Number  of  painless  Surgical  Operations  pcrformec 
at  Hooghly,  during  tlie  last  eight  months. 

Arm  amputated      ------  i 

Breast  ditto      -------  i 

Tumour  extracted  from  the  upper  jaw        -  i 

Scirrhus   testium   extirpated  -        -        -  2 

Penis  amputated     ------  2 

Contracted  knees  straightened    -  -        -  3 

Ditto  arms      -------3 

Operations  for  cataract  -        -        -        -  3 

Large  tumour  in  the  groin  cut  off       -        -  i 

Operations  for  Hydrocele      -        -        -        -  7 

Ditto  Dropsy  ------  2 

Actual  Cautery  applied  to  a  sore    -        -        -  i 

Muriatic  acid  ditto         -----  2 

Unhealthy  sores  pared  down  -        -        -  7 

Abscesses   opened  -----  5 

Sinus,  six  inches  long,  laid  open  -         -  I 

Heel  flayed     -------i 

End  of  thumb  cut  off     -----  i 

Teeth  extracted      -        -        -        -        -        -  3 

Gum  cut  away -        -  i 

Prepuce  cut  off  -        -        -  -        -  3 

Piles  ditto       -------  i 

Great  toe  nails  cut  out  by  the  roots      -        -  5 

Seton  introduced  from  ankle  to  knee     -         -  i 

Large  tumour  on  leg  removed      -        -        -  i 
Scrotal  tumours,  weighing  from  8  lb.  to  80  lb., 

removed    17        -        -        -        --        -  14 

Painless   operations         -  '  -  -  73 


MESMERIC  FACTS. 


13 


A  Return  of  Medical  Cases  cured  by  Mesmerism,  during  the  last  eight 

months. 


Nervous  Headache  .  .  - 
Tic-dolourcux  .  .  -  - 
Nervousness,  and  Lameness  from 
Rheumatism  of  2>2  years' 
standing  ----- 
Spasmodic  Colic  -  -  -  - 
Acute  inflammation  of  the  eye 
Chronic  ditto  -        -        -        - 

Acute  inflammatioti  of  testes 
Convulsions  .        .        -        . 

Lameness  from  Rheumatism 
Lumbago        ----- 

Sciatica           -        -        -        -        - 
Pain  in  crural  nerve 
Palsy  of  one  arm  -        -        -        - 
Ditto  of  half  the  body    - 
Feeling   of  insects   crawling  over 
the   body 


3  cured  by  one  trance. 
I  ditto. 


I  by  chronic  treatment.* 

I  by  one  trance. 

I  by  repeated  trances  in  24  hours. 

I  by  chronic  treatment. 

I  by  repeated  trance  in  36  hours. 

1  by  one  trance. 

2  by  chronic  treatment. 

I  by  general  and  local  mesmerising 

for  a  week. 

I  ditto. 

I  ditto. 

I  ditto  for  a  month. 

I  ditto  for  6  weeks. 

I  by  one  trance. 

18 


It  will  be  perceived  that  the  above  cases  are  chiefly  diseases  of  the 
nervous  system.  But  as  sleep  and  the  absence  of  pain  is  the  best  condi- 
tion of  the  body  for  promoting  the  resolution  of  inflammation  by  the  pow- 
ers of  Nature,  I  have  extinguished  local  inflammations  by  keeping  the 
patients  entranced  till  this  was  eflfected. 


*By  chronic  treatment  is  meant  daily  mesmerising  without  the  intention 
of  entrancing  the  patient,  which  is  not  necessary. 


14  REPORT  OF 

I  beg  to  state,  for  the  satisfaction  of  those  who  have  not  yet  a  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  the  subject,  that  I  have  seen  no  bad  consequences  what- 
ever arise  from  persons  being  operated  on  when  in  the  mesmeric  trance. 
Cases  have  occurred  in  which  no  pain  has  been  felt  subsequent  to  the 
operation  even ;  the  wounds  healing  in  a  few  days  by  the  first  intention ; 
and  in  the  rest,  I  have  seen  no  indications  of  any  injury  being  done  to  the 
constitution.  On  the  contrary,  it  appears  to  me  to  have  been  saved,  and 
that  less  constitutional  disturbance  has  followed  than  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances. 

There  has  not  been  a  death  among  the  cases  operated  on.  In  my 
early  operations,  I  availed  myself  of  the  first  fit  of  insensibility,  not  know- 
ing whether  I  could  command  it  back  again  at  pleasure. 

But  if  the  trance  is  not  profound  the  first  time,  the  surgeon  may  safely 
calculate  on  its  being  deeper  the  next,  and  when  operating  in  public,  it 
will  be  prudent  to  take  the  security  of  one  or  two  preliminary  trances. 
Flexibility  of  the  limbs  till  moved,  and  their  remaining  rigid  in  any  posi- 
tion we  put  them  in,  are  characteristic  of  the  trance :  but  there  are  excep- 
tions, and  these  are  equally  diagnostic,  and  to  be  depended  upon.  It 
sometimes  happens,  that  the  limbs  become  rigid  as  they  lie,  and  on  bend- 
ing them  they  have  always  a  disposition  to  return  to  a  state  of  spas- 
modic extension.  At  other  times,  there  is  a  complete  relaxation  of  thg 
whole  muscular  system,  and  the  limbs  can  be  tossed  about  like  those  of 
a  person  just  dead. 

The  eyes  are  usually  closed,  .but  the  eyelids  are  sometimes  seen  a 
little  separated,  or  half-open  and  tremulous,  and  the  eye  is  even  occasionally 
wide  open,  fixed,  and  insensible  to  the  light.  On  one  occasion,  having 
ordered  a  man  to  be  entranced,  I  returned  after  two  hours,  and  was  told 
by  my  assistant  that  the  man  was  not  affected.  I  went  to  see,  and  found 
him  with  half-open  eyes,  quivering  eyelids,  and  trembling  hands.  I 
immediately  said  that  he  was  ready,  and,  without  further  testing  his  condi- 
tion, performed  a  most  severe  operation  upon  him,  without  his  knowing 
anything  about  it. 

I  also  wish  to  remark  that  I  have  seen  no  symptom  of  congestion  of 
blood  on  the  brain;  the  circulation  in  the  trance  being  usually  quite  nat- 
ural, like  that  of  a  sleeping  person.  My  patients  appear  to  escape  the 
stimulating  stage  of  the  mesmeric  influence  altogether,  and  to  pass  at 
once  from  life  to  temporary  death.  This  I  am  disposed  to  attribute  to 
the  concentrated  uninterrupted  manner  in  which  the  power  is  applied. 
As  soon  as  it  is  felt,  there  is  no  time  given  to  the  system  to  rally  from 
the  first  impression,  and  it  succumbs  without  a  struggle  to  the  con- 
straining power. 

Some  patients,  when  suddenly  awakened,  say  that  their  vision  is  hazy, 
and  their  heads  light ;  but  I  take  this  to  arise  from  the  imperfectly  recov- 
ered sensibility  of  the  brain  and  the  organs  of  sense,  which  are  not  at 


Me5^IERIC  FACTS.  15 

-^>'  (-'.  ■ 

once  roused  up  into  the  full  possession  of  their  waking  powers,  just  as  is 
seen  in  persons  suddenly  aroused  from  profound  natural  sleep. 

That  the  mesmeric  torpor  of  the  brain  and  nerves  does  not  arise  from 
sanguine  congestion,  is  often  beautifully  seen  in  the  first  actions  of  per- 
sons awaking  from  the  trance. 

They  open  their  eyes,  and  at  the  same  moment  recover  all  their  fac- 
ulties; but  it  is  seen  that  the  pupil  is  insensible  to  the  light:  this  they  also 
become  aware  of;  they  know  that  their  eyes  are  open,  and  that  they 
ought  to  see,  but  do  not.  The  thought  fills  them  with  horror,  and  with 
a  fearful  cry  they  bury  their  faces  in  their  hands,  like  persons  struck 
blind  by  lightning ;  but  this  soon  passes  off,  and  the  retina  recovers  its 
sensibility  by  a  little  rubbing  of  the  eye.  The  dreadful  shock  given  to 
the  mind  under  such  circumstances,  or  when  a  somnambulist  awakes  and 
finds  himself  standing  in  some  strange  attitude  naked,  in  the  midst  of 
strangers  (an  experiment  I  have  often  made,)  is  a  trial  of  the  nerves 
which  it  would  be  very  imprudent,  and  even  dangerous,  to  make  with 
any  but  such  singularly  impassive  subjects  as  my  Indian  patients. 

This,  and  the  inconveniences  of  inducing  the  mesmeric  disease  (spon- 
taneous mesmeric  action  in  the  system)  by  doing  more  than  is  necessary 
for  the  cure  of  disease,  appear  to  me  to  be  the  real  dangers  to  be  avoided 
in  the  use  of  Mesmerism  as  a  remedy. 

I  am  now  able  to  say  from  experience,  that  debility  of  the  nervous 
system  predisposes  to  the  easy  reception  of  the  mesmeric  influence,  and 
I  augur  well  of  a  patient's  powers  of  submission,  when  I  recognize  in 
him  the  listless  dejected  air,  "I'air  abattu,"  that  usually  accompanies 
functional  debility  of  the  nerves. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Aversion  of  the  old  Schools  and  the  Public  to  new  Ideas. — Some  old  No- 
tions must  be  suspended  in  fairly  considering  Mesmerism. — Irrational 
Incredulity. — Mesmerism  to  be  tried  by  the  usual  Laws  of  Evidence. — 
Medical  men  not  entitled  to  decide  the  Matter  for  the  Public. — The 
Public  invited  to  judge  of  the  Matter  of  Fact. — Medical  Men  in  this 
Country  favourably  placed. — Personal  Labour  necessary. — All  easy 
afterwards. — Qualifications  of  a  Mesmeriser. — The  Mesmeric  Power  very 
general. — The  Sick  the  proper  Subjects  for  Experiment. — The  Natives 
of  Bengal  very  susceptible  to  the  Mesmeric  Influence. — Nature  the 
School  of  the  true  Physician. — Mesmerism  a  natural  Power  of  Man. — 
Instincts  of  Animals. — Mesmerism  known  and  practised  in  India.— 
Trial  of  Skill  with  an  Eastern  Magician. — Dangers  of  Mesmerism  no 
Reason  for  rejecting  it. — No  need  to  interfere  with  the  mind  in  Bodily 
Disease. — My  Patients  bad  subjects  for  the  Mental  Phenomena. — The 
Public  invited  to  judge  the  Question  practically  and  fairly      -      Page  19 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  French  Commission  of  1779. — Both  Right  and  Wrong. — The  Mes- 
merists properly  punished. — Condition  required  in  the  Patient. — State 
of  my  mind  before  experimenting  for  myself. — Report  of  the  Bishop  of 
Lausanne  to  the  Pope. — His  Reply. — Accidental  Nature  of  my  First 
Experiment. — Accidental  Nature  of  my  Second  Experiment. — First  Mes- 
meric Surgical  Operation. — Conclusion   -----      Page  34 

CHAPTER  III. 

Mesmerism  the  same  in  India  and  in  Europe. — Examples  of  Mesmeric 
Sleep. — Sealing  of  the  Eyes. — Altered  Sensibility. — Temporary  Par- 
alysis.— Muscular  Rigidity. — Insensibility  to  Pain. — Exaltation  of  partic- 
ular Organs. — Convulsions. — Delirium. — Injustice  done  to  the  Memory 
of  the  first  Mesmerists. — Every  available  Evidence  here  given. — Impos- 
ture morally  and  physically  impossible. — Mode  of  Proceeding. — Mes- 
meric and  Non-Mesmeric  Operations  contrasted. — Physiological  Dem- 
onstration of  the  Impossibility  of  Imposture         .        -        -        Page  50 

I 

16 


CONTENTS.  17 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Soinnambulism. — Definition. — Singular  Introduction  to  it. — Suspected 
Child-stealing  by  its  Means. — First  Experiment  m  making  a  Somnam- 
bulist.— Trial  of  Mesmeric  Skill  in  a  Court  of  Justice. — Men  stolen  out 
of  Court. — Truth  of  Mesmerism  publicly  proved. — Natural  Sleep,  and 
Its  Varieties,  can  be  imitated  by  Artificial  Means. — Mesmeric  Sleep. — 
Mesmeric  Day-mare. — Mesmeric  Sleep-walking. — Mesmeric  Sleep-wak- 
ing.— Mesmeric  Dreaming. — How  to  make  Somnambulists. — Imitative 
Stage  of  Somnambulism. — Communicative  Stage  of  Somnambulism. — 
Mesmeric  Catalepsy. — Mesmeric  Coma. — Natural  Clairvoyance. — Mes- 
meric Clairvoyance. — Nature  of  the  Mesmeric  Power. — Illustrative  Ex- 
amples        - Page  62 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Mesmeric  Processes. — Publicity  the  best  Security  to  the  Public. — 
Ignorance  and  Indifference  the  Real  Dangers. — Mesmeric  Treatment  of 
Disease  a  Field  for  the  Philanthropist. — Puysegur  and  Deleuze,  unpro- 
fessional Men. — Processes  for  producing  Coma. — Tumour  in  Upper  Jaw 
removed  during  Coma. — Hypertrophy  of  Scrotum,  ditto. — Trance  re- 
newable at  Pleasure. — Three  consecutive  Operations  on  one  Person. — 
Mode  of  Mesmerising  in  Chronic  Diseases. — Cure  of  Rheumatism  and 
Nervousness. — Local  Mesmerising. — Mesmerised  Water. — Process  for 
preparing  it. — First  Experiments  with  it. — The  last. — Means  of  awaking 
Persons  Mesmerised      --------  Page  90 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Mesmerism  as  a  remedy. — Coma  as  a  Medical  Agent. — Journal  of  Practi- 
cal Mesmerism. — Chronic  Inflammation  of  Eye  cured. — Nervous  Head- 
ache ditto. — Acute  Inflammation  of  Eye  ditto. — Return  of  Nervous 
Headache  prevented. — Rev.  Mr.  Fisher's  Report. — How  to  make  a  Con- 
vert.— Tooth  drawn  in  the  Trance. — Convulsions  cured  by  ditto. — Arms 
straightened  in  ditto. — Sense  of  Formication  removed. — Lumbago,  Sci- 
atica, Pain  in  Crural  Nerve,  cured. — Palsy  of  an  Arm  ditto. — Hemiplegia 
greatly  benefitted. — Tic  cured. — Rheumatism  ditto. — Mesmerism  as  a 
Disease. — Resembles  Hysteria. — Ignorant  charges  of  Imposture. — The 
Public  abused. — The  Public  disabused. — Folly  and  Unfairness  of  its 
would-be  Guides. — Spontaneous  Development  of  the  Mesmeric  Disease. — 
Mesmerising  by  doing  nothing  taught  by  the  Mesmerists  themselves. — A 
natural  Consequence  of  frequent  Mesmerising.-  Examples  of  Mesmer- 
ising by  doing  nothing. — Hysteric  Theory. — Hope  to  hear  of  Hysteria 
as  a  Remedy  soon. — Rational  Mode  of  studying  Mesmerism      Page  103 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Mesmerism    in    Surgery. — Journal    of    Practical    Mesmerism. — Mesmeric 
Trance:  A  Leg  straightened  in;  Colic  cured  by;  Penis  amputated  in; 


1 8  CONTENTS. 

Arm  straightened  in;  Arm  amputated  in;  Breast  cut  off  in;  Abscess 
opened  in;  Heel  flayed  in;  Tooth  extracted  in;  End  of  Thumb  cut  off 
in;  Arm  laid  open  in;  Three  Abscesses  opened  in;  Sinus  laid  open  in; 
Gum  cut  away  in. — Invasion  of  the  waking  by  the  Sleeping  State. — 
Mesmeric  Trance:  hypertrophied  Prepuce  cut  off  in;  suppurating  Pile 
in;  both  great  Toe  Nails  cut  out  in;  Knee  straightened  in;  Ulcer  on 
Temple  burned  with  Muriatic  Acid  in;  Seton  introduced,  &c.,  in;  Tu- 
mour in  Groin  removed  in ;  Fungoid  Sores  pared  off  in ;  scirrhus  Testes 
extirpated  in ;  Cataract  operated  on  in ;  Malignant  Disease  of  Testes 
extirpated  in ;  unhealthy  Sore  pared  in ;  hypertrophied  Prepuce  cut  off 
in ;  Pain  extinguished  by ;  Return  on  Awakening ;  Amputation  of  Penis 
in ;  unhealthy  Sores  pared  in ;  Two  Operations  for  Hydrocele  in. — Mes- 
merism alike  favourable  to  the  Operator  and  the  Patient     -        Page  120 

CHAPTER  Vni. 

Hypertrophy  of  the  Scrotum;  different  Causes  of. — Elephantiasis  endemic 
in  Bengal  and  Lower  Egypt ;  probable  Causes  of. — Example  of  Malarious 
Fever. — True  Elephantiasis  of  the  Scrotum. — Hypertrophy  from  Hydro- 
cele; from  Syphilis;  Condition  of  the  Organs  involved;  Mode  of  oper- 
ating; Mismanagement  by  the  Native  Doctors;  Number  of  Operations 
for  six  Years  previous  to  April,  1845;  in  the  Mesmeric  Trance,  for 
Eight  Months. — First  Case. — Some  Cause  for  the  late  Increase  of  Cases. 
— Operations  in  the  Mesmeric  Trance    -----       Page  134 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Curiosities  of  Mesmerism. — Unsatisfactory  Nature  of  Public  Exhibitions. 

Apology  for  giving  one. — Account  of  it  by  a  Visitor. — The  modes  in 

which  the  Mesmeric  Fluid  can  be  transmitted. — It  acts  at  great  Dis- 
tances.— Is  absorbed  by  Water. — Can  pass  through  a  Wall. — Final 
Experiments ---.       Page  145 

Appendix Page  156 


MESMERISM  IN  INDIA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Aversion  of  the  old  Schools  and  the  Public  to  nezv  Ideas. — Some 
old  Notions  must  be  suspended  in  fairly  considering  Mesmer- 
ism.— Irrational  Incredidity. — Mesmerism  to  be  tried  by  the 
usual  Lazvs  of  Evidence. — Medical  Men  not  entitled  to  decide 
the  Matter  for  the  Public— The  Public  invited  to  judge  of  the 
Matter  of  Fact.— Medical  Men  in  this  Country  favourably 
placed.— Personal  Labour  necessary.— All  easy  afterwards. — 
Qualifications  of  a  Mesmeriser.—The  Mesmeric  Pozver  very 
general.— The  Sick  the  proper  Subjects  for  Experiment.— 
The  Natives  of  Bengal  very  susceptible  to  the  Mesmeric  Influ- 
ence.—Nature  the  School  of  the  true  Physician.— Mesmerism 
a  natural  Pozver  of  Man. — Instincts  of  Animals. — Mesmerism 
knozi'u  and  practised  in  India.— Trial  of  Skill  zvith  an  Eastern 
Magician.— Dangers  of  Mesmerism  no  Reason  for  rejecting 
it— No  need  to  interfere  ztnth  the  Mind  in  Bodily  Disease. — 
My  Patients  bad  Subjects  for  the  Mental  Phenomena.— The 
Public  invited  to  judge  the  Question  practically  and  fairly. 

On  the  first  broaching  of  any  new  branch  of  knowledge,  there 
is  ever  a  great  commotion  and  combination  among  the  old-estab- 
Ushed  schools,  which  have  thriven  on  the  wisdom  of  their  ances- 
tors, and  desire  nothing  more  than  "stare  super  vias  antiquas/' 
satisfied  with  things  as  they  are,  and  content  to  "let  well  alone" ; 
and  there  is  also  a  general  dislike  in  society  to  have  its  mind  un- 
settled, and  to  be  called  upon  to  think  again  about  matters  sup- 
posed to  have  been  set  at  rest  long  ago.  We  have  the  same 
afifection  for  old  familiar  ideas  that  we  entertain  for  old  coats, 
shoes,  and  hats,  because  they  humour  the  peculiarities  of  our 
constitutions. 

But  I  hope  the  time  has  at  last  come  for  the  public,  and  the 
medical  profession,  to  listen  patiently  to  a  medical  man,  while  he 
relates  facts  that  have  fallen  under  his  observation  regarding 
Mesmerism,  and  for  the  truth  of  which  he  pledges  his  private 
and  professional  character,  as  I  hereby  do. 

19 


20  SOME  OLD  NOTIONS    NOT   TENABLE. 

Under  such  circumstances,  a  writer  has  a  right  to  expect 
that  his  statements  shall  be  believed  till  they  are  disproved,  or 
till  dishonesty  in  any  of  the  parties  concerned  shall  be  detected. 

In  considering  a  subject  so  new  and  wonderful,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  clear  away  many  thorns  and  thistles  which  have 
grown  up  in  the  mental  soil,  exhausting  its  strength,  and  unfitting 
it  for  receiving  the  seeds  of  truth,  however  freely  and  carefully 
sown.  At  present  it  will  be  sufficient,  if,  as  a  preliminary,  the 
reader  will  dismiss  the  respectable  old  notion,  that  the  vital 
powers  of  our  bodies  are  confined  within  their  own  limits,  and 
cannot  be  transferred  to  and  act  upon  others.  On  the  contrary, 
there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  vital  fluid  of  one  per- 
son can  be  poured  into  the  system  of  another,  upon  which  it 
has  various  effects,  according  to  constitutional  peculiarities,  the 
demand  for  it  as  a  remedy,  and  the  manner  and  extent  to  which 
it  is  exhiBited  in  order  to  answer  different  purposes.  Man  is  not, 
as  commonly  supposed,  shut  up  in  that  pent-house,  his  body, 
isolated,  and  impotent  to  affect  his  fellow-creatures  beneficially 
by  a  benevolent  will,  and  his  own  innate  resources.  A  merciful 
God  has  ingrafted  a  communicable,  life-giving,  curative  power 
in  the  human  body,  in  order  that  when  two  individuals  are  found 
together,  deprived  of  the  aids  of  art,  the  one  in  health  may  often 
be  able  to  soothe  and  relieve  his  sick  companion,  by  imparting  to 
him  a  portion  of  his  vitality.  To  believe  that  we  possess  such  a 
power  is,  surely,  a  proud  and  exalting  idea,  which  I  hope  the 
public  will  entertain  with  pleasure;  and  I  trust  to  be  able  to 
prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  dispassionate  and  reflecting  minds, 
that  this  is  no  fond  delusion  of  an  excited  brain,  but  a  substan- 
tial blessing,  daily  at  work  for  good,  extending  immeasurably 
man's  individual  power  of  doing  good  by  his  unaided  natural 
powers,  and  bringing  healing  and  comfort  to  suffering  humanity, 
all  over  the  world. 

Such  is  the  force  of  habit,  and  aversion  to  a  new  train  of 
thought,  that  this  proposed  extension  of  man's  power  has  bceti  re- 
ceived with  as  much  distaste,  as  if  it  had  been  intended  to  deprive 
him  of  a  limb,  or  one  of  his  senses,  and  has  been  subjected  to  an 
irrational  incredulity  which  nothing  can  satisfy.  Nothing  is  more 
common  than  to  hear  persons  boast,  "that  they  will  not  believe  it 
till  they  see  it:" — some  go  a  step  farther  in  smothering  their 
reason,  and  declare,  that  "they  would  not  believe  it  if  they  saw  it ;" 
— and  I  have  known  others,  not  only  refuse  the  evidence  of  their 
senses,  but  deny  their  own   deeds,  because  they  had  declared 


IRRATIONAL   INCREDULITY.  21 

the  thing  to  be  "impossible !"  It  is  a  common  and  ludicrous  error 
to  see  people  mistaking  obstinacy  for  strength  of  mind,  and  self- 
sufficiency  for  knowledge;  and  aiding  the  delusion,  by  calling 
themselves  "Sceptics,"  that  name  having  once  been  respectable  in 
philosophy ; — whereas,  they  have  never  had  any  doubt  about  the 
matter,  and  will  never  condescend  to  hear  the  subject  mentioned 
without  emphatic  expressions  of  contempt  and  disgust.  These 
are  the  "eiifaus  perdus"  of  knowledge,  and  must  be  left  to  the 
free  indulgence  of  their  passions  and  prejudices;  for  a  man  who 
never  doubts,  will  never  learn :  he  may  grow  older,  but  not  wiser. 
Few,  in  the  solution  of  their  doubts,  can  be  privileged  to  the 
extent  of  St.  Thomas ;  and  the  horizon  of  human  knowledge 
would  be  miserably  circumscribe  J,  if  we  rejected  all  that  we  did 
not  understand,  and  refused  to  believe  facts,  except  on  the  evi- 
dence of  our  own  senses.  There  is  absolutely  no  merit  in  believ- 
ing what  we  have  seen  and  handled ;  this  is  no  exercise  of  the 
judgment,  and  is  level  to  the  understanding  of  a  savage :  but  it  is 
the  privilege  of  reason  to  be  able  to  believe  in  the  most  surprising 
statements  of  others,  if  properly  supported  by  evidence,  and  to 
adopt  their  conclusions,  although  tlie  facts  may  have  been  ob- 
served, and  the  deductions  drawn,  by  our  antipodes.  One  such 
rational  conversion  is  worth  a  thousand  produced  by  crediting 
the  senses ;  for  its  influence  extends  to  reasoning  minds  all  over 
the  world.  When  a  person  says,  "I  would  not  have  believed  it, 
unless  I  had  seen  it,"  he  must  not  be  surprised  at  his  neighbour 
requiring  equal  satisfaction.  As  a  lover  of  truth  for  its  own  sake, 
I  am  very  little  gratified  by  being  told  by  my  friends,  "I  believe  it, 
because  you  say  so."  This  is  a  very  barren  belief,  and  reaches 
only  a  small  circle ;  our  faith  and  opinions  should  be  built  upon 
a  broader  basis  than  personal  confidence  in  any  one.  There  are 
recognised  laws  of  evidence  for  testing  the  credibility  of  human 
testimony,  upon  whatever  subject  i!:  may  be  given ;  and  however 
new  or  strange  the  proposition  may  be,  we  shall,  by  a  careful  and 
dispassionate  examination  of  the  proofs,  be  able  to  determine 
what  we  may  safely  believe,  on  what  points  w6  ought  to  suspend 
our  judgments,  and  how  much  should  be  rejected.  In  spiritual 
matters,  we  have  been  told,  "Blessed  are  they  that  have  not  seen, 
and  yet  have  believed."  This  blessing  also  follows  the  ready,  but 
discriminating,  reception  of  truth  in  philosophy,  morals,  and  secu- 
lar affairs.  Mental  satisfaction,  honour,  and  profit,  if  cared  for, 
reward  the  first  discoverers  of  the  secrets  of  nature ;  riches  await 
the  men  of  clear  sense,  who  know  how  to  turn  the  new  truths  to 


22  MEDICAL   MEN    NOT   ENTITLED 

practical  purposes ;  and  in  medicine,  the  early  application  of  new 
remedies  removes  much  human  suffering  that  would  probably 
have  been  otherwise  hopeless.  It  is  a  curious  psychological  phe- 
nomenon, that  a  hard  disbelief  in  Mesmerism  seems  to  be  in  pro- 
portion to  the  extraordinary  facilities  afforded  to  every  one  of  sat- 
isfying himself  by  his  own  deeds,  and  the  evidence  of  his  own 
senses.  No  "hocus  pocus,"  no  pretensions  to  exclusive  powers,  no 
attempts  at  concealment,  are  resorted  to  by  many  Mesmerisers, 
whose  word  has  never  been  doubted,  and  who  are  well  know-n  to 
be  neither  fools  nor  knaves.  They  say  to  us,  "Do  thus,  and  you 
will  probably  become  as  wise  as  ourselves ;  or  if  you  cannot,  or 
will  not,  be  at  the  necessary  trouble, — come  and  see." 

But  people  in  general  prefer  to  dictate  laws  to  nature  from 
their  easy  chairs,  and  amuse  themselves  at  the  expense  of  her 
followers,  chasing  the  shapes  of  their  own  imaginations,  as  they 
are  pleased  to  say.  To  those  who  really  desire  to  know  the  truth, 
whatever  favourite  ideas  it  may  upset,  I  would  venture  to  recom- 
mend that  they  should  examine  the  evidence  in  support  of  Mes- 
merism, just  as  they  would  any  other  matter  worth  inquiring 
about ;  and  I  can  confidently  promise  that  they  will  be  richly  re- 
warded. To  encourage  them,  I  would  remind  them  in  the  words 
of  Bacon,  "that  the  inquiry  of  truth,  which  is  the  love-making 
or  wooing  of  it ;  the  knowledge  of  truth,  which  is  the  presence 
of  it ;  and  the  belief  of  truth,  which  is  the  enjoying  of  it ;  is  the 
sovereign  good  of  human  nature;"  and  that  this  highest  gratifi- 
cation of  humanity  can  only  be  attained  by  carefully  training  and 
exercising  our  intellect,  to  which  the  senses  are  only  handmaids. 

The  public  are  too  apt  to  consider  the  subject  of  Mesmerism 
as  a  professional  one,  and  not  to  take  the  necessary  means  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  it  till  the  doctors  shall  have  decided  w^hat 
is  to  be  believed  about  it.  This  is  an  error  on  the  part  of  the 
public,  for,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  medical  men  in  general  as  yet 
know  nothing  about  it;  and  there  is  nothing  in  their  previous 
knowledge,  however  great  and  varied,  that  bears  upon  the  sub- 
ject, or  can  entitle  them  to  decide,  ex  cathedra,  on  the  truth  or 
falsehood  of  the  new  discoveries.  As  the  question  at  present 
stands,  it  is  one  of  facts,  and  of  evidence  in  support  of  them,  of 
which  a  jury  of  sensible  unprofessional  men  can  judge  as  well 
as  so  many  doctors,  to  whom  the  subject  is  equally  new  and  per- 
plexing. When  the  doctors  shall  have  experimented  for  them- 
selves, or  taken  the  trouble  to  witness  the  practice  of  others, 
and  carefully  studied  the  subject,  the  public  cannot  do  better 


TO  DECIDE  THE   MATTER  FOR  TTTE  PUBLIC.  23 

than  take  them  for  their  guides ;  but  this  "consummation  devoutly 
to  be  wished"  is  so  remote,  I  fear,  that  not  many  of  this  genera- 
tion will  live  to  benefit  by  Mesmerism,  if  they  wait  till  it  is  ad- 
mitted into  the  Pharmacopoeia. 

I  would  therefore  recommend  the  public  to  exercise  their 
common  sense,  and  sober  judgment,  in  determining  for  the  doc- 
tors the  matter  of  fact ;  and  if  the  community  decides  that  it  is 
really  a  remedy  of  great  efficacy,  that  there  is  no  resisting  the 
proofs  in  support  of  it,  that  to  know  nothing  about  it  is  no  recom- 
mendation to  a  medical  man ;  then  Mesmerism  will  assume  its 
proper  rank  as  a  remedial  agent,  and  be  lodged  in  the  hands  of 
those  who  should  alone  practise  it ;  for  it  is  subject  to  enormous 
abuses  in  the  hands  of  the  ignorant  and  unprincipled.  Instead  of 
doubting  and  dogmatising  about  Mesmerism,  I  would  earnestly 
entreat  my  medical  brethren  to  put  it  to  the  test  by  personal 
experiment,  for  it  is  a  thing  to  be  done,  and  not  talked  of  only :  "I 
want  facts,  and  not  zvords,"  will  be  the  answer  of  every  person  of 
common  sense  to  the  most  dogmatical  and  ingenious  objectors. 

It  is  by  medical  men  in  this  country  taking  up  the  subject 
experimentally,  without  previous  knowledge  of  it,  and  having  no 
theories  to  make  good  or  defend,  that  the  truth  or  falsehood  of 
Mesmerism  may  be  very  speedily  decided.  By  following  the 
instructions  to  be  hereafter  given,  I  doubt  not  that  many  will  be 
as  successful  as  myself,  for  they  are  the  means  of  putting  in  mo- 
tion a  law  of  nature  whose  springs  are  hidden  from  us,  but  whose 
effects  are  most  wonderful  and  beneficial  to  humanity,  when 
properly  directed. 

But  I  beg  leave  to  warn  all  who  have  not  yet  a  practical 
knowledge  of  the  subject,  that  to  produce  the  phenomena  of  Mes- 
merism is  by  no  means  a  thing  so  light  and  easy  as  some  imagine. 
In  singularly  sensitive  persons  the  extreme  degree  of  coma,  so 
intense  as  to  permit  the  performance  of  surgical  operations,  with- 
out awaking  the  patient,  may  sometimes  be  obtained  in  a  few 
minutes ;  but,  in  general,  it  takes  an  hour  or  two,  and  the  process 
often  does  not  succeed  till  the  second,  or  even  fourteenth  time. 
In  this,  as  in  everything  else,  nature  will  not  "unsought  be  won," 
and  only  yields  her  secret  treasures  to  those  who  court  her  with 
earnestness,  sincerity,  and  resolution.  "Lahore  ct  sudore"  ought 
to  be  the  Mesmerist's  motto,  until  he  has  produced  the  desired 
results  by  his  personal  efforts,  and  thereby  given  confidence  to 
himself  and  others.  After  this,  all  is  easy,  for  any  number  of 
proper  assistants  may  be  taught  to  act  under  our  superintendence; 


24  QUALIFICATIONS   OF  A    MESMERISER. 

and  this  is  the  only  way  in  which  a  physician  can  practise  Mes- 
merism to  any  extent. 

But  I  would  venture  to  suggest,  that  it  will  not  be  enough  to 
set  people  to  mesmerise  for  us  by  the  book.  It  is  exacting  too 
much  of  human  nature  to  expect  people  to  sweat  for  hours  paw- 
ing the  air,  &c.,  for  our  incomprehensible  objects.  But  let  them 
look  on  and  see  the  wonderful  effects  produced  by  the  labours  of 
their  superiors ;  and  a  host  of  willing  and  efficient  Alesmerisers 
will  spring  up,  to  execute  the  will  of  the  directing  mind,  and  re- 
lieve it  from  the  drudgery  of  the  needful  bodily  exertion.  Much 
has  been  written  about  the  physical  and  moral  qualities  necessary 
in  a  Mesmeriser,  and  such  a  picture  of  a  "perfect  monster"  has 
been  drawn,  that  it  is  enough  to  deter  one  from  making  the  at- 
tempt. If  asked  to  select  a  natural  Mesmeriser,  I  should  be  dis- 
posed to  choose  a  person  of  a  high  organisation,  in  whom  the 
nervous  and  circulating  systems  were  equally  active,  with  deter- 
mined will,  a  resolution  to  do  the  thing  if  possible,  and  a  love 
of  truth  and  humanity,  that  would  induce  him  to  "do  for  love 
what  gold  could  never  buy."  But,  when  the  way  has  been  shown, 
far  less  energy  of  mind  and  body  is  quite  sufficient  for  all  prac- 
jtical  purposes.  /  Healthy  young  persons,  who  are  tractable  and- 
patient,  and  who  will  give  the  necessary  degree  of  attention,  can 
be  made  to  work  out  our  intentions  in  the  most  efficient  manner ; 
'and  I  hope  to  make  it  appear  that  the  mesmeric  power  is  a  far 
more  general  gift  of  nature  than  has  hitherto  been  supposed. 
Finding  it  impossible,  after  the  first  month,  to  prosecute  the  sub- 
ject in  my  own  person,  owing  to  the  great  bodily  and  mental 
fatigue  it  caused, — for  I  spared  neither, — I  set  to  work  my 
hospital  attendants,  young  Hindoos  and  Mahomedans ;  and  such 
has  been  my  success,  that  every  one  I  have  taught  has  become 
a  skilful  Mesmeriser.  Now  I  do  not  need  to  mesmerise  at  all, 
having  a  dozen  assistants  to  execute  my  wishes,  whether  it  be 
in  mesmeric  treatment  of  medical  cases,  or  for  procuring  coma 
in  surgical  operations. 

To  those  who,  by  their  own  powers,  may  desire  to  test  the 
truth  for  themselves,  I  would  venture  to  suggest  that  an  earnest 
desire  to  know  the  truth,  a  fixed  attention,  and  a  resolution  to 
overcome  first  difficulties,  are  essential  conditions  of  mind  for 
the  operator,  as  the  means  of  concentrating  and  keeping  up  the 
continued  action  of  the  vital  agent,  whatever  it  may  be.  First 
experiments  should  be  made  cin  the  sick,  in  the  hope  of  benefitting 
them ;  which  hopes,  if  strongly  felt,  will  be  a  stimulus  to  exertion, 


THE  SICK  THE  PROPER  SUBJECTS.  2$ 

and  an  element  of  success  totally  wanting  in  experimenting  on 
healthy  subjects,  who  are  also  more  difficult  to  be  affected.  "The 
whole  need  not  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick;"  and  how- 
ever bountiful  nature  may  be  to  her  creatures,  she  is  never  prod- 
igal, and  never  wastes  unnecessary  power.  Mesmerism  is  the 
"Medicine  of  Nature;"  and  she  refuses,  very  wisely,  to  take  it 
when  it  is  not  needed;  and  if  forced  upon  her  in  a  state  of  health, 
it  is  very  likely  to  do  mischief ;  for  any  attempt  to  be  better  than 
"well"  is  pretty  sure  to  make  one  ill.  People  say  to  me,  "I  would 
like  to  ascertain  if  I  can  be  mesmerized ;  do  try."  I  reply,  "  You 
very  probably  cannot ;  and  I  should  as  soon  comply  with  your 
desire  to  feel  the  effects  of  opium  as  mesmerise  you  without  a 
cause ;  when  you  need  it,  you  will  probably  be  benefitted  by  it." 
Besides,  a  person  in  health  resisting  the  influence  is  no  proof 
that  he  will  remain  insensible  to  it  in  an  altered  state  of  the  body, 
when  there  may  be  an  actual  craving  of  the  nervous  system  for 
this  sustenance  from  without. 

As  yet,  I  am  sorry  to  add,  I  cannot,  with  any  degree  of  con- 
fidence, say  who  are  the  persons  susceptible  to  the  mesmeric  in- 
fluence, without  first  trying.  But  it  is  satisfactory  to  know,  that 
by  far  the  majority  of  persons  acted  upon  by  me,  and  my  assist- 
ants, have  been  affected  in  different  degrees,  all  of  which  are  in- 
valuable to  their  possessors,  for  the  relief  and  cure  of  their  dis- 
eases ;  and  in  most  of  the  failures  I  have  little  doubt  that  we 
should  have  succeeded,  if  the  process  had  been  prosecuted. 

The  people  of  this  part  of  the  world  seem  to  be  peculiarly 
sensitive  to  the  mesmeric  power ;  and  as  it  has  been  observed 
that  a  depressed  state  of  the  nervous  system  favours  its  reception, 
we  can  understand  why  they,  as  a  body,  should  be  more  easily 
affected  than  Europeans.  Taking  the  population  of  Bengal  gen- 
erally, they  are  a  feeble,  ill-nourished  race,  remarkably  deficient 
in  nervous  energy ;  and  natural  debility  of  constitution  being  still 
further  lowered  by  disease,  will  probably  account  for  their 
being  so  readily  subdued  by  the  Mesmerist.  Their  mental  con- 
stitution also  favours  us ;  we  have  none  of  the  morbid  irritability 
of  nerves,  and  the  mental  impatience  of  the  civilised  man,  to 
contend  against ;  both  of  which  resist  and  neutralise  the  efforts 
of  nature.  The  success  I  have  met  with  is  mainly  to  be  attrib- 
uted, I  believe,  to  my  patients  being  the  simple,  unsophisticated 
children  of  nature;  neither  thinking,  questioning,  nor  remon- 
strating, but  passively  submitting  to  my  pleasure,  without  in  the 
smallest  degree  understanding  my  object  or  intentions.    How  far  ^ 


TY 


26  NATURE  THE   TRUE  PHYSICIAN. 

artificial  man  may  have  forfeited  his  birthright  I  have  not  yet 
had  the  means  of  knowing ;  but  out  of  the  small  number  of  Euro- 
peans who  have  come  under  my  observation,  the  majority  have 
also  succumbed  to  the  influence ;  and  if  the  proud  sons  of  civilisa- 
tion will  condescend  to  return  for  a  moment  to  the  feet  of  their 
mother  Nature,  they  also  will  probably  benefit  by  her  bounties. 
We  have  so  far  deserted  Nature,  that,  in  return,  she  has  re- 
nounced us  as  unnatural  children,  and  left  us  to  our  self-suffi- 
ciency and  artificial  resources ;  but  these,  in  general,  are  mere 
make-shifts  and  palliatives,  compared  with  the  steady  and  endur- 
ing curative  powers  of  nature,  when  properly  understood  and 
brought  into  action.  The  whole  art  of  the  true  physician  is  ex- 
erted to  induce  nature  to  interfere  and  take  up  the  case  of  his 
patient ;  and  when  he  sees  signs  of  her  gracious  presence,  he  only 
reverentially  looks  on,  and  confines  himself  to  removing  impedi- 
ments in  her  way.  But  the  routine  practitioner  w^ll  rarely  con- 
descend to  divide  with  nature  the  merit  of  the  cure.  He  and  his 
pills,  powders,  and  potions,  must  have  all  the  credit ;  and  if  any 
one  pretends  to  be  able  sometimes  to  cure  disease  by  the  unassist- 
ed powers  of  nature,  he  is  called  quack,  impostor,  or  fool,  and 
hunted  down  as  a  fcra  naturae.  But,  in  my  estimation,  the  gen- 
uine medical  quack  is  he  who,  professing  to  cure  disease,  yet  al- 
lows his  patients  to  suffer  and  perish,  by  ignorantly,  or  presump- 
tuously, despising  any  promising  or  possible  means  of  relief.  The 
Father  of  Medicine  thought  very  differently  from  his  degenerate 
sons,  for  he  says, — "Nothing  should  be  omitted  in  an  art  which 
interests  the  whole  world,  which  may  be  beneficial  to  suffering 
humanity,  and  which  does  not  risk  human  life  and  comfort." 
But  a  time  was,  when  apothecaries,  chemists,  and  diploma'd 
physicians  did  not  exist ;  when  man  was  an  unreasoning  animal, 
devoid  of  all  the  resources  of  art,  yet  subject  to  all  the  ills  that 
natural  flesh  is  heir  to ;  and  it  is  a  subject  of  deep  interest  to  the 
philosopher  and  the  physician  to  ascertain  what  were  his  natural 
remedies,  in  common  with  the  other  animals ;  whether  his  in- 
stincts were  as  strong  as  theirs,  and  to  what  conservative  powers 
he  resorted  when  labouring  under  disease.  That  he  possessed 
such  appears  to  me  to  be  extremely  probable,  from  the  analogies 
of  the  animal  creation,  and  the  universal  benevolence  of  the  Deity 
to  his  creatures.  It  must  be  most  important  and  instructive  to 
discover  what  were,  or,  if  not  yet  known,  what  arc,  the  natural 
remedies  of  man ;  for  by  observing  their  effects  we  shall  best 
understand  the  restorative  processes  of  Nature,  and  be  able  to 


ANTIQUITY   OF   MESMERISM.  27 

imitate  them  by  art,  with  a  certainty  hitherto  unaltaiiicd  liy  medi- 
cine. 

So  far  from  Mesmerism  being  a  new  and  unnatural  art, 
there  is  every  reason  to  behave  that  it  is  the  oldest  and  most 
natural  mode  of  curing  many  of  the  severe,  uncomplicated  dis- 
eases of  the  human  race.  Let  us  imagine,  for  a  moment,  the 
condition  of  savage  men,  before,  by  long  experience,  they  had 
learned  to  avail  themselves  of  the  medicinal  virtues  of  the  vegeta- 
ble and  mineral  kingdoms,  for  the  cure  of  their  most  pressing 
diseases.  Man,  in  this  state,  would  be  more  helpless  than  the 
brute  creation ;  they  have  happy  instincts,  many  of  them  known 
to  us,  by  which  they  are  directed  not  only  to  their  natural  food, 
but  to  their  natural  medicines.  But  man,  so  far  as  we  yet  know 
him,  could  in  his  sufferings  only  make  vague  experiments  on  the 
natural  objects  around  him,  in  the  desperate  hope  of  stumbling 
upon  some  suitable  remedy.  This  might  occasionally  happen, 
but  he  was  more  likely  to  be  poisoned  than  cured  by  his  first  ex- 
periments. The  very  fish  were  more  favoured  than  he.  The 
salmon,  by  an  infallible  instinct,  quit  the  sea  at  a  certain  season, 
and  ascend  the  rivers,  thereby  getting  rid  of  their  tormentors, 
the  sea-lice  (which  the  fresh  water  speedily  kills,)  and  at  the  same 
time  reaching  the  spots  destined  for  the  propagation  of  their 
kind.  After  depositing  the  spawn,  the  parent  fish,  black,  lank, 
and  sick,  distasteful  to  themselves,  and  unwholesome  to  us.  hasten 
to  the  sea  to  renovate  their  health ;  whence,  again,  they  issue  in 
another  year,  increased  in  size,  and  brilliant  as  silver,  to  run  the 
same  course  as  long  as  life  continues.  The  young  fry,  also,  the 
moment  they  break  the  egg,  turn  their  heads  seaward,  and  never 
stop  till  they  reach  the  ocean,  whose  action  is  necessary  for  their 
growth  and  health. 

The  dog  eats  grass,  and  licks  his  sores  when  sick ;  the  cow, 
and  calf  even,  sham  dead,  to  induce  the  crows  to  pick  the  vermin 
from  their  eyes  and  ears ;  the  chick,  as  soon  as  it  breaks  the  shell, 
pecks  gravel,  to  aid  digestion ;  the  mongoose,  after  being  bitten 
by  its  enemy,  the  snake,  retires  to  the  fields,  to  seek  its  antidote 
against  the  poison ;  and  this  it  finds,  for  it  comes  back  quite  well ; 
and  at  certain  seasons  the  wild  animals  resort,  from  the  most 
distant  parts  of  the  country,  to  the  "salt-licks,"  to  renovate  their 
constitutions.  Numberless  instances  of  the  same  kind  will  occur 
to  the  naturalist,  and  the  humble  observer  of  nature  even ;  and  is 
it  imaginable  that  the  ever-watchful,  all-bountiful  Providence  of 
God  should  have  left  the  "noble  savage,"  alone  of  all  His  crea- 


28  MESMERISM    THE    UNIVERSAL    CURE 

lures,  to  run  such  cruel  risks,  and  perish  helplessly  in  his  natural 
ignorance  ?  Reasoning  a  priori,  we  should  say  not ;  and  our  posi- 
tive knowledge  of  the  equal  care  bestowed  by  God  on  all  his 
creatures,  forbids  the  supposition.  Man,  then,  had  probably  some 
instinct  by  which  he  was  directed  to  a  natural  medicine  of  sov- 
ereign virtue,  and  by  which  the  hunter  and  his  family  were  saved 
from  starvation,  when  disease,  for  a  time,  deprived  his  right 
hand  of  its  cunning,  unnerved  his  iron  sinews,  and  bowed  his 
gallant  head.  If  this  be  a  natural  supposition,  what  could  be  his 
resource  if  not  Mesmerism — that  inherent  power,  implanted,  as 
I  conceive,  in  the  human  being,  for  the  solace  of  his  sufTering 
fellow  creature?  This  is  the  simplest  and  most  speedy  restorative 
of  the  powers  of  Hfe,  in  cases  adapted  to  it  (for,  like  every  nat- 
ural agent,  it  has  its  conditions  and  limits;)  and  men  in  pain 
have  an  instinctive  tendency  to  perform  the  required  processes. 
From  its  simplicity,  how  consonant  with  all  we  know  of  the  laws 
of  nature  would  be  such  a  power,  and  how  admirably  adapted  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  savage  life ! 

The  more  observing  among  savage  men,  it  is  presumable, 
would  soon  detect  the  latent  curative  powers  of  their  bodily  sys- 
tem, and  develope  them  into  an  art  for  the  cure  of  disease,  and 
the  advancement  of  their  own  interests.  But  when  experience 
had  given  them  skill,  and  it  became  a  source  of  gain,  they  made, 
we  may  suppose,  a  mystery  of  their  calling,  and  attempted  to  se- 
cure the  lucrative  secret  for  themselves  and  families.  Hence, 
among  the  savage  races  of  mankind,  we  see  the  healing  art  prac- 
tised exclusively  by  conjurors,  either  artfully  concealing  the  secret 
of  their  power  by  incantations,  and  other  mummery,  or,  possibly, 
themselves  deceived  into  a  belief  of  the  efficacy  of  such  accom- 
plishments. If  the  Mumbo  Jumbo  men  of  Africa,  the  medicine 
men  of  America,  and  the  charmers  of  this  country,  ever  succeed 
in  relieving  their  patients  (and  here  they  do,)  I  am  disposed  to 
think  that  it  is  generally  in  cases  curable  by  Mesmerism.  The 
following  extract  from  my  "Mesmeric  Journal"  will  show  that 
this  is  not  so  fanciful  a  speculation  as  it  may  at  first  appear,  and 
that  Mesmerism  is  actually  practised  in  this  country,  and  has 
probably  been  so  from  time  immemorial,  like  every  other  custom 
in  this  imnnitable  society. 

June  9th,  1845. — I  had  to-day  the  honour  of  being  introduced 
to  one  of  the  most  famous  magicians  in  Bengal,  who  enjoys  a 
hi^h  reputation  for  his  successful  treatment  of  hysteria,  and  had 
been  sent  for  to  prescribe  for  my  patient   (whose  case  will  be 


AMONGST   SAVAGE   NATIONS.  29 

afterwards  given,)  but  came  too  late;  the  success  of  my  charm, 
Mesmerism,  having  left  him  nothing  to  do.  Baboo  Essanchunder 
Ghosaul,  deputy  magistrate  of  Hooghly,  at  my  request  intro- 
duced me  to  him  as  a  brother  magician,  who  had  studied  the  art 
of  magic  in  different  parts  of  the  world,  but  particularly  in 
Egypt,  where  I  had  learned  the  secrets  of  the  great  Sooley- 
mann,  from  the  moollahs  and  fuqueers,  and  that  I  had  a  gfcat 
desire  to  ascertain  whether  our  charms  were  the  same,  as  the 
hakeems  of  Europe  held  the  wise  men  of  the  East  in  liigh  estima- 
tion, knowing  that  all  knowledge  had  come  from  that  quarter.  I 
proposed  that  we  should  show  each  other  our  respective  charms, 
and,  after  much  persuasion,  he  agreed  to  show  me  his  process 
for  assuaging  pain.  He  sent  for  a  brass  pot,  containing  water, 
and  a  twig  with  two  or  three  leaves  upon  it,  and  commenced 
muttering  his  charms,  at  arm's  length  from  the  patient.  In  a 
short  time  he  dipped  his  fore-finger  into  the  water,  and,  with  the 
help  of  his  thumb,  flirted  it  into  the  patient's  face  ;  he  then  took 
the  leaves,  and  commenced  stroking  the  person  from  th.e  crown 
of  the  head  to  the  toes,  with  a  slow  drawing  motion.  The  knuckles 
almost  touched  the  body,  and  he  said  that  he  would  continue  the 
process  for  an  hour,  or  longer,  if  necessary ;  and  it  convinced  me 
that,  if  these  charmers  ever  do  good  by  such  means,  it  is  by  the 
Mesmeric  influence,  probably  unknown  to  themselves.  I  said 
that  I  was  convinced  of  the  great  efficacy  of  his  charm,  and 
would  now  show  him  mine ;  but  that  he  would  understand  it  bet- 
ter if  performed  on  his  own  person.  After  some  difficulty,  we 
got  him  to  He  down,  and,  to  give  due  solemnity  to  my  proceed- 
ings, I  chanted,  as  an  invocation,  the  chorus  of  the  "King  of  the 
Cannibal  Islands  !"  I  desired  him  to  shut  his  eyes,  and  he  clenched 
his  eyelids  firmly,  that  I  might  find  no  entrance  to  the  brain  by 
that  inlet.  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  he  jumped  up,  and  said  he 
felt  something  disagreeable  coming  over  him,  and  wished  to  make 
his  escape.  He  was  over-persuaded  to  lie  down  again,  however, 
and  I  soon  saw  the  muscles  around  the  eye  begin  to  relax,  and 
his  face  became  perfectly  smooth  and  calm.  I  was  sure  that  I 
had  caught  my  brother  magician  napping,  for,  in  a  few  minutes, 
he  bolted  up  suddenly,  clapped  his  hands  to  his  head,  cried  he 
felt  drunk,  and  nothing  could  induce  him  to  lie  down  again ; 
"ahiit,  excessit,  evasit,  eritpit!"  Next  day  I  saw  him,  and  said, 
"Well,  you  were  too  strong  for  my  charm  last  night ;  I  could  not 
put  you  to  sleep."  "Oh !  yes,  Sahib,"  he  answered,  "you  did ;  I 
allow  it ;  it  is  allowed  that  you  put  me  to  sleep." 


30  CONTRARY  TENDENCIES  OF  MESMERISM, 

A  gentleman,  whose  case  will  be  given  hereafter,  immediately 
recognised  the  identity  of  the  two  processes,  and  told  me  that  he 
had  been  Mesmerised,  he  now  knew,  in  a  different  part  of  the 
country,  and  with  much  relief,  in  a  painful  affection  of  the  leg. 
In  addition  to  the  traction  with  the  leaves,  his  mesmeriser  had 
breathed  carefully  upon  the  pained  part,  just  as  my  assistant  had 
done  when  mesmerising  him  locally  for  rheumatism.  It  thus  ap- 
pears that  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  Mesmeric  processes  are 
known  in  this  country,  and  the  secret  has  probably  descended 
from  remote  antiquity,  in  certain  families,  or  castes. — Farther  on, 
when  speaking  of  Somnambulism,  a  curious  history  will  be  given, 
which  leads  me  to  suspect  that  they  knew  the  evil,  as  well  as 
good,  of  Mesmerism,  and  practise  it  for  the  most  villainous  pur- 
poses. The  possible  evil  resulting  to  society  from  the  practice  of 
Mesmerism  has  been  a  favourite  objection,  even  when  the  evi- 
dence of  its  existence  and  power  could  no  longer  be  resisted. 

But  the  tendency  of  all  power  depends  upon  the  direction 
given  to  it  for  good,  or  evil ;  and  to  eject  opium,  mercury,  and 
prussic  acid  from  the  pharmacopoeia,  because,  when  injudiciously 
administered,  they  poison,  instead  of  curing  our  patients ;  or  to 
reject  the  agency  of  steam  for  the  purposes  of  life,  because  it 
sometimes  takes  us  a  longer  journey  than  we  intended,  would 
be  as  reasonable  as  to  refuse  to  be  cured  by  Mesmerism,  because 
it  could  also  injure  us,  if  ignorantly  and  injudiciously  applied. 
That  this  agent  may,  and  will,  be  turned  to  the  most  diabolical 
purposes,  is  most  certain,  if  the  public  will  not  be  at  the  trouble 
to  think  upon  the  subject,  and  defend  itself  by  common-sense 
precautions.  But  the  power  as  it  comes  from  the  Creator  is 
pure,  and  the  perversion  of  it  is  the  work  of  the  creature.  The 
object  of  man's  life  here  clearly  is — to  separate  the  good  from 
the  evil;  "to  prove  all  things,  and  hold  fast  that  which  is  good;" 
and  this  can  be  done  in  Mesmerism,  as  in  anything  else :  the 
abuse,  and  not  the  use  of  any  great  power,  is  to  be  dreaded  and 
guarded  against.  I  have  great  hopes  that  my  experiments  will 
go  far  to  separate  the  regions  of  mind  and  body,  which,  it  seems 
to  me,  have  been  unnecessarily  and  perplexingly  intermingled 
by  former  Mesmeric  observers;  and  this  will  not  only  simplify 
the  Mesmeric  treatment  of  disease,  but  remove  the  principal 
objectior^  to  it;  namely — the  necessity  of  acting  on  the  mind, 
often  injuriously,  during  the  cure  of  a  bodily  infirmity.  It  will 
appear,  that  in  the  exercise  of  tb.e  art,  as  a  medical  agent  of  the 
most  benign  as  well  as  powerful  nature,  the  mind  has  never  been 


SIMPLICITY  OF    MESMF,RISM.  3I 

attempted  to  be  influenced  by  me,  nor  has  it  ever  been  heard  of  in 
my  practice.  In  subjecting  my  patients  to  the  sanative  influence 
of  Mesmerism  for  bodily  complaints,  no  mental  rapport  has  ever 
been  thought  of;  and  if  so  much  can  be  done  without  it,  I  am 
sanguine  that  it  will  soon  be  proved  to  be  a  tedious  and  unneces- 
sary complication  of  the  art,  and  "more  honoured  in  the  breach 
than  the  observance."  In  the  management  of  mental  disease,  it 
will  probably  be  required,  and  be  useful,  as  the  mind  depends 
much  more  upon  organisation  than  is  generally  supposed.  But 
this  is  only  an  extension  of  the  blessing,  if  the  power  is  wielded 
in  all  honour  and  simplicity  of  purpose.  In  this,  as  in  other  mat- 
ters, the  danger  lies  in  the  company  we  keep.  The  possessor  of 
a  well-filled  purse  does  not  seek  the  companionship  of  pick- 
pockets ;  and  the  honest  man  eschews  the  society  of  knaves ;  and  if 
Mesmerism  is  thought  likely  to  benefit  us,  the  same  common- 
sense  mode  of  proceeding  should  influence  us  in  the  disposal  of 
our  bodies  and  minds,  when  affected  by  disease.  I  am  convinced 
that  in  the  majority  of  bodily  evils  removable  by  this  means, 
there  will  be  no  need  to  interfere  with  the  mind  at  all.  To  do  so 
is  a  mere  travelling  out  of  the  record ;  and  where  a  mixed  treat- 
ment is  required  it  can  be  safely  adopted,  by  using  the  simple 
precaution  of  seeking  an  honest  man  with  the  necessary  knowl- 
edge of  the  subject;  and  let  us  hope  that  such  will  soon  abound. 
Many  will  be  disappointed  that  I  have  no  mental  wonders  to 
relate;  but  no  inference  against  the  existence  of  such  wonders 
can  be  fairly  drawn  from  the  silence  of  my  patients.  My  re- 
searches have  been  purely  physical,  and  preclude  me  from  getting 
at  the  mind  at  all,  for  all  activity  of  mind  is  the  natural  enemy 
of  the  purely  physical  impressions  made  upon  the  system ;  I 
therefore  seclude  the  brain  from  all  external  impressions  as  rap- 
idly as  possible ;  the  object  being  to  extinguish  bodily  and  mental 
sensibility  together,  and  altogether ;  and  in  proportion  to  our 
success  in  efl!^ecting  this,  is  the  early  inducement  of  Coma  for 
surgical  purposes.  It  is  quite  unreasonable  to  expect  to  extract 
music  from  a  fiddle  without  strings :  and  I  endeavor  to  break  at 
a  blow,  as  it  were,  all  the  strings  of  the  mind — the  five  senses. 
It  is  true,  that  this  treatment  is  only  required  for  acute  diseases, 
or  to  induce  insensibility  to  pain,  and  it  might  be  expected  that 
in  the  treatment  of  chronic  diseases,  I  should  be  able  to  elicit  the 
mental  phenomena,  if  they  exist  in  nature.  But  as  my  principal 
object  is  to  ascertain  how  far  this  new  agent  is  capable  of  alle- 
viating bodily  suffering,  I  have  purposely -kept  myself  from  em- 


32  MESMERIC  SOMNAMBULISM. 

barking  on  the  troubled  sea  of  metaphysics,  till  the  more  pressing 
bodily  problem  shall  be  solved,  and  a  "terra  firma"  of  indisputable 
facts  created,  from  whence  we  may  securely,  and  at  leisure,  ex- 
amine, and  attempt  to  understand,  the  high  and  mysterious  ob- 
jects above  us. 

My  patients,  being  the  poorest  and  most  ignorant  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  convicted  felons  from  the  same  degraded  orders,  are 
the  most  unfavourable  subjects  for  psychological  experiments.  As 
to  physique,  men  are  nearly  the  same  all  the  world  over:  an  uni- 
versal vital  law  reduces  all  to  the  same  level  of  animal,  and  the 
coolie,  therefore,  may  be  able  to  mesmerise  the  philosopher ;  but 
the  difference  in  morale  is  so  great,  not  only  among  races,  but 
individuals,  as  to  preclude  all  sympathy,  and  to  often  amount  to 
actual  antipathy,  and  mutual  repulsion.  Although  in  producing 
the  physical  effects  of  Mesmerism,  I  have  not  seen  any  necessity 
for  the  sympathy  and  rapport  we  read  so  much  about,  I  can 
readily  understand, 'that  in  eliciting  the  higher  mental  phenomena, 
these  fine  mental  sympathies  may  be  developed,  and  be  necessary 
for  the  success  of  the  abnormal  mental  manifestations ;  but  my 
patients  and  I  have  probably  too  little  in  common  to  admit  of 
mental  sympathy  between  us.  It  will  be  seen,  however,  in  the 
chapter  on  Somnambulism,  that  I  have  created  a  singular  houle- 
versement  in  the  minds  of  coolies  and  pariahs  even,  when  under 
the  Mesmeric  influence. 

The  public,  when  examing  a  subject  so  deeply  interesting  to 
them,  will,  I  hope,  take  an  enlarged  and  liberal  view  of  the  mat- 
ter, and  look  for  fundamental  and  incontrovertible  truths,  which 
are  practically  important,  and  not  allow  themselves  to  be  cheated 
out  of  their  senses  and  judgment,  by  the  doubtful,  mysterious, 
and  theoretical  parts  of  the  subject  being  exclusively  dwelt  upon, 
by  those  who  zvish  Mesmerism  to  be  untrue,  or  by  others  who 
have  neither  the  desire  nor  capacity  to  acquire  new  knowledge. 
Errors  of  observation  and  of  judgment  must  often  occur  in  in- 
vestigating a  new  and  difficult  subject,  but  I  hope  such  uninten- 
tional mistakes  will  be  excused ;  and  wherever  they  shall  be 
pointed  out  in  my  observations,  I  shall  be  ready  to  acknowledge 
and  correct  them.  Let  all  doubtful  evidence  be  totally  rejected, 
and  a  mass  of  substantial  important  truth  will  remain,  which,  I 
am  confident,  the  public  "will  not  willingly  let  die ;"  for  human 
nature  can  ill  afford  to  lose  any  new  and  promising  source  of 
comfort  to  suffering  humanity. 

Before  concluding  these  prefatory  remarks,  I  beg  the  reader 


MESMERISM    AXD    Mi;i)ICINE.  33 

not  to  do  me  the  injustice  to  think  me  a  Mesmeric  doctor,  for  it 
would  be  as  true  to  call  me  a  rhubarb,  jalap,  or  castor-oil  physi- 
cian. Mesmerism  often  comes  to  the  aid  of  my  patients,  when 
all  the  resources  of  medicine  are  exhausted,  and  all  the  drugs 
of  Arabia  useless ;  and  therefore,  I  consider  it  to  be  my  duty  to 
benefit  them  by  it,  and  to  assist  in  making  it  known  for  the  ad- 
vantage of  mankind. 


CHAPTER  11. 

The  French  Commission  of  177c). — Both  Right  and  Wrong. — The 
Mesmerists  properly  punished. — Condition  required  in  the 
Patient. — State  of  my  Mind  before  experimenting  for  myself. 
— Report  of  the  Bishop  of  Lausanne  to  the  Pope. — His  Reply. 
— Accidental  Nature  of  my  First  Experiment. — Accidental 
Nature  of  my  Second  Experiment. — First  Mesmeric  Surgical 
Operation. — Conclusion. 

The  most  formidable,  because  the  most  reasonable  argument 
against  the  existence  of  Mesmerism  as  a  natural  power,  is,  per- 
haps, the  report  of  the  French  Commission  in  1779,  of  which 
Franklin  was  president.  The  verdict  of  the  Savans  was  fair 
enough,  considering  the  nature  of  the  evidence  placed  before 
them;  but  yet,  (such  is  human  fallibility,)  in  this  case  summuni 
jus  was  also  summa  injuria;  truth  was  sacrificed  to  falsehood,  as  I 
think  will  clearly  appear  from  a  short  analysis  of  their  proceed- 
ings. This  will  probably  not  be  time  wasted,  as  I  have  heard  in- 
telligent gentlemen  say,  that  the  report  of  the  French  philosophers 
still  decided  their  opinions.  They  had  a  series  of  axioms  in  Mes- 
merism presented  to  them,  whose  truth  they  were  to  examine,  and 
the  efficacy  of  certain  processes  was  to  be  proved  to  their  satis- 
faction by  experiment. 

The  Mesmerist's  object  seems  to  have  been,  to  try  to  convince 
the  commission  that  he  had  a  secret  worth  knowing,  and  yet 
continue  to  keep  it  to  himself,  by  hiding  its  extreme  simplicity 
under  a  load  of  comj)licated  machinery  and  various  kinds  of  mum- 
mery. D'Eslon,  the  pupil  of  Mesmer,  propounded  his  laws  of 
animal  magnetism,  after  this  fashion: — 

"I.  Animal  magnetism  is  an  universal  fluid,  constituting  an 
absolute  plenum  in  nature,  and  the  medium  of  all  mutual  influence 
between  the  celestial  bodies,  and  betwixt  the  earth  and  animal 
bodies." 

This  is  only  a  gigantic  assertion. 

"II.  It  is  the  most  subtle  fluid  in  nature,  capable  of  flux, 
and  of  reflux,  and  of  receiving,  propagating,  and  continuing  all 
kinds  of  motion." 

34 


FRENCH    COMMISSION    OF    1779.  35 

The  first  two  clauses  arc  probable  enough ;  the  last  is  only 
rash  dogmatism. 

"III.  The  animal  body  is  subjected  to  the  influences  of  this 
fluid  by  means  of  the  nerves,  which  are  immediately  affected 
by  it." 

We  see  no  other  way,  at  present. 

"IV.  The  human  body  has  poles,  and  other  properties,  anal- 
ogous to  the  magnet." 

The  first  proposition  has  never  been  proved,  and  takes  every- 
thing for  granted ;  there  is  only  likelihood  in  the  second. 

"V.  The  action  and  virtue  of  animal  magnetism  may  be  com- 
municated from  one  body  to  another,  whether  animate  or  inani- 
mate." 

True,  as  regards  the  relations  between  animate  bodies ;  and 
these  can  also  impregnate  inanimate  substances. 

"VI.  It  operates  at  a  great  distance,  without  the  intervention 
of  any  body." 

True. 

"VII.  It  is  increased  and  reflected  by  mirrors,  communicated, 
propagated,  and  increased  by  sound,  and  may  be  accumulated, 
concentrated,  and  transported." 

Soothing  sounds  may  possibly  assist  in  lulling  the  brain,  but 
quiet  is  far  more  essential ;  the  other  assertions  are  borne  out 
by  modern  experience. 

"VIII.  Notwithstanding  the  universality  of  this  fluid,  all 
animal  bodies  are  not  affected  by  it ;  on  the  other  hand,  there  are 
some,  though  but  few  in  number,  the  presence  of  which  destroys 
all  the  effects  of  animal  magnetism." 

The  first  part  correct,  the  last  not  improbable. 

"IX.  By  means  of  this  fluid,  nervous  diseases  are  cured  imme- 
diately, and  others  mediately ;  and  its  virtues,  in  fact,  extend  to 
the  universal  cure  and  preservation  of  mankind." 

True ;  to  so  great  a  degree,  that  we  do  not  yet  know  how  far 
it  may  go. 

Is  it  surprising  that  the  Commission  dismissed  contemptu- 
ously such  a  mass  of  sheer  assertion  and  unsupported  theory, 
seasoned  wdth  truth  to  be  sure,  but  so  diluted  and  obscured  as  not 
to  be  recognisable?  Like  a  Bengal  witness,  D'Eslon  was  not  con- 
tent to  tell  the  truth  simply,  but  added  so  many  corroborating 
inventions  of  his  own,  that  no  one  knew  what  to  believe,  and  the 
case  was  dismissed  as  unworthy  of  further  investigation.  He 
ruined  himself,  and  his  cause,  also,  (perhaps  in  ignorance,  how- 


36  RELIEF    IN    MESMERISM. 

ever,)  by  loading  the  truth  with  a  parcel  of  trumpery  machinery, 
through  which  he  hoped  the  power  of  nature  would  nevertheless 
penetrate.  But  Nature,  like  an  over-loaded  camel,  turned  upon 
her  driver,  and  threw  him  and  his  paraphernalia  of  magnetic  plat- 
forms, conducting-rods  and  ropes,  pianos,  magnetised  trees  and 
buckets,  into  the  dirt ;  and  truth  retired  in  disgust  to  the  bottom  of 
her  well,  there  to  dwell  till  more  honest  men  should  draw  her 
forth  again  to  surprise  and  benefit  the  world. 

As  far  as  my  observation  goes,  all  that  is  necessary  for  suc- 
cess, if  the  parties  are  in  the  relation  of  agent  and  subject,  is  pass- 
ive obedience  in  the  patient,  and  a  sustained  attention  and  patience 
on  the  part  of  the  operator.  The  process  being  a  natural  one,  the 
more  the  parties  are  in  a  state  of  nature  the  better :  the  bodies  of 
m.y  patients  being  naked,  and  their  heads  generally  shaved,  is 
probably  of  no  small  consequence  in  the  proceedings. 

Before  presenting  to  the  reader  my  first  experiment  in  mes- 
merising, I  may  perhaps  be  excused  the  egotism  of  giving  a  brief 
sketch  of  the  history  of  my  belief  in  Mesmerism,  as  it  is  a  re- 
markable epoch  in  a  man's  life  the  day  he  discovers  that  he  pos- 
sesses the  temporary  power  of  life  and  death  over  his  fellow- 
creatures. 

Ever  since  Dr.  Elliotson  declared,  years  ago,  that  he  "should 
despise  himself  if  he  did  not  declare  his  conviction  of  the  truth 
of  Mesmerism,"  I  ceased  to  regard  it  lightly,  and  paid  attention 
to  all  well-attested  reports  upon  the  subject.  At  last  the  facts 
became  so  numerous,  and  were  so  well  supported  by  credible  wit- 
nesses, and  kept  their  ground  so  firmly,  both  against  adverse  rea- 
soning and  ridicule,  that  I  felt  compelled  to  surrender  my  belief 
in  the  existence  of  the  Unknown  Pov/er,  or  cease  my  reason  and 
judgment.  Ten  days  before  making  my  first  experiment,  I  thus 
wrote  to  a  friend  in  England : — "What  think  you  of  this  new  mys- 
tery. Mesmerism  ?  For  my  part,  I  am  thinking  seriously  about  it, 
and  cannot  help  suspecting  that  we  have  hit  upon  one  of  Nature's 
great  secrets.  I  keep  myself  perfectly  neutral,  and  hear  th.e  pro 
and  con.  If  it  turns  out  to  be  a  delusion,  I  shall  be  happy  to  assist 
in  digging  its  grave." 

The  uniformity  of  the  phenomena  described  by  different  per- 
sons, and  coming  from  various  parts  of  the  world,  strongly 
arrested  my  attention,  and  impressed  me  with  the  conviction  that 
some  new  general  law  of  Nature  had  been  discovered.  England, 
France,  Germany,  and  America,  all  combined  to  give  the  same 
evidence  in  support  of  the  new  doctrines,  or,  rather,  new  phe- 


riSTTOp  or  lafsannk's  report.  37 

nonicna  of  Xature.  About  the  time  that  Miss  Martineau's  dis- 
closures appeared,  I  also  read  a  curious  and  striking  document 
written  in  May,  1841,  by  the  Archbishop  of  Lausanne  and 
Geneva,  and  addressed  to  the  Sacred  Penitentiary,  at  Rome.  As 
it  may  possibly  make  the  impression  upon  others  that  it  did  on 
me,  it  is  here  transcribed. 

"Most  Eminent  Lord, 

Since  that  which  has  hitherto  been  answered  respecting  ani- 
mal magnetism  seems  by  no  means  to  suffice,  and  it  is  much  to 
be  wished  that  cases  not  unfrequently  occurring  may  be  solved 
more  and  more  uniformly,  the  undersigned  humbly  lays  before 
your  Eminence  that  which  follows : — 

"A  magnetised  person,  who  is  generally  of  the  female  sex, 
enters  into  that  state  of  sleep  called  Magnetic  Somnambulism  so 
deeply,  that  not  even  the  greatest  noise  at  her  ears,  nor  any  vio- 
lence of  iron  or  fire,  is  capable  of  raising  her  from  it.  She  is 
brought  into  this  kind  of  ecstacy  by  the  magnetiser  alone,  to 
whom  she  has  given  consent  (for  consent  is  necessary,)  either  by 
various  touches  or  gesticulations,  when  he  is  present,  or  by  a 
simple  command,  and  that,  too,  an  internal  one,  when  he  is  at  a 
distance  of  even  several  leagues. 

"Then,  being  interrogated,  aloud  or  mentally,  concerning  her 
own  disease,  or  those  of  absent  persons  entirely  unknown  to  her, 
this  person,  who  is  evidently  one  unlearned,  at  once  exhibits  great 
superiority  in  science  to  medical  men ;  announces  most  accurately 
anatomical  matters ;  indicates  the  cause,  seat,  and  nature  of  in- 
ternal diseases  in  the  human  body,  which,  to  the  skilful,  are  most 
difficult  of  understanding,  and  unravels  their  progress,  variation, 
and  complications ;  and  this  in  the  terms  proper  to  them,  and 
prescribes  the  most  simple  and  effi.cacious  remedies. 

"If  the  person  concerning  wliom  the  magnetised  woman  is 
consulted  is  present,  the  magnetiser  establishes  the  relation  be- 
tween them  by  means  of  contact.  If,  however,  he  be  absent,  a 
lock  of  his  hair  supplies  his  place,  and  suffices ;  for,  when  this 
lock  of  hair  is  brought  into  the  proximity  of  the  hand  of  the 
magnetised  person,  he  declares  what  it  is  (without  casting  his 
eyes  on  it,)  whose  hair  it  is,  where  the  person  is  actually  sojourn- 
ing, to  whom  the  hair  belongs,  what  he  is  doing,  and  affords  the 
above-mentioned  information  respecting  his  disease  not  otherwise 
than  if,  after  the  manner  of  medical  men,  he  were  inspecting  the 
interior  of  his  body. 


38  BISHOP  OF  LAUSANNF.'S  REPORT. 

"Lastly,  the  magnetised  person  does  not  see  with  the  eye. 
The  eyes  being  covered,  though  not  knowing  how  to  read,  he 
will  read  off  whatever  is  placed  on  his  head  or  stomach,  whether 
a  book  or  manuscript,  open  or  shut.  His  words,  too,  seem  to 
issue  from  this  region :  but  when  brought  out  of  this  state,  either 
at  the  order,  even  internal,  of  the  magnetiser,  or,  as  it  were,  spon- 
taneously at  the  moment  previously  announced  by  himself,  he 
appears  to  be  not  at  all  conscious  of  the  things  gone  through  by 
him  in  the  paroxysm,  how  long  soever  it  may  have  lasted ;  what 
may  have  been  demanded  of  him ;  what  he  may  have  answered ; 
what  he  may  have  undergone ;  all  these  things  have  left  no  idea 
in  his  understanding,  nor  the  least  vestige  in  his  memory. 

"Therefore,  the  undersigned  petitioner,  seeing  valid  reasons 
for  doubting  whether  such  effects,  the  occasional  cause  of  which 
is  shown  to  be  so  little  proportioned  to  them,  be  simply  natural, 
earnestly  and  most  fervently  prays  that  your  Eminence  in  your 
wisdom,  for  the  greater  glory  of  the  Omnipotent,  as  well  as  the 
greater  good  of  souls,  which  have  been  redeemed  by  the  Lord  at 
so  great  a  price,  may  be  pleased  to  decide,whether,  admitting  the 
truth  of  the  premises,  a  confessor  or  curate  may  safely  permit 
to  his  penitents  or  parishioners  : — 

"i.  That  they  practise  animal  magnetism,  endowed  with  such, 
or  other  lilvC  characteristics,  as  an  art  auxiliary  and  supplemen- 
tary to  medicine. 

"2.  That  they  consent  to  be  thrown  into  such  a  state  of  mag- 
netic somnambulism. 

"3.  That  they  consult  persons  magnetised  in  such  a  manner 
either  concerning  themselves  or  concerning  others. 

"4.  Or  that  they  undertake  one  of  these  last  mentioned  three 
things,  having  first  taken  the  precaution  of  formally  renouncing 
in  their  minds  every  diabolic  compact,  explicit  or  implicit,  as 
well  as  all  satanic  interventions,  since,  notwithstanding  such  pre- 
cautions, similar  effects,  or  some  such  effects,  have  been  obtained 
by  some  persons. 

"Most  Eminent  Lord,  by  command  of  the  most  Rev.  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Lausanne  and  Geneva,  your  Eminence's  most  humble 
and  most  obedient  servant, 

"James  Xavier  Fontana, 
"Chancellor  of  the  Episcopal  Chancery. 

"Friburgh,   in    Switzerland,    JLpiscopal    Palace,    the    19th   of 
May,  1841." 


REPLY    OF    TTIF.    PENITENTIARY.  39 

RESPONSE. 

"The  Sacred  Penitentiary,  the  premises  having  been  maturely 
weighed,  considers  that  these  should  be  answered  as  it  now 
answers : — the  use  of  magnetism,  as  set  forth  in  the  case,  is  not 
permissible. 

"Given  at  Rome,  in  the  Sacred  Penitentiary,  the  ist  day  of 
July,  1 84 1.  "C.  Card,  Castracane,  M.  P. 

"Ph.  Pomella,  of  the  S.  P.  Sec'y. 

"Certified  as  a  copy  conformable  to  the  original. — Friburgh, 
the  26th  July,  1 84 1. 

"By  order,  J.  Perroulaz,  Sec'y.  of  the  Bishopric." 

It  will  be  observed,  that  though  the  subject  is  held  in  dread 
by  the  reporter,  as  probably  of  diabolic  origin,  yet  it  is  treated 
as  a  "great  fact,"  known  to,  and  believed  in,  by  a  large  com- 
munity, so  that  catholics  and  protestants  are  found  alike  profess- 
ing a  belief  in  Mesmerism.  If  the  twentieth  part  of  what  was 
reported  was  true,  it  well  deserved  careful  investigation ;  and,  as 
I  had  no  dread  of  knowing  anything  that  God  has  permitted  to 
be  known,  I  determined  to  try  to  find  out  the  truth  for  myself, 
on  the  first  favourable  opportunity.  In  choosing  a  proper  subject 
to  experiment  upon,  I  should  probably  have  selected  some  highly 
sensitive  female  of  a  nervous  temperament,  and  excitable  imag- 
ination, who  desired  to  submit  to  the  supposed  influence.  But, 
I  beg  it  to  be  particularly  remarked,  my  first  essay  was  not  guided 
by  theory,  and  was  not  made  on  a  subject  supposed  to  be  favour- 
able. On  the  contrary,  the  very  worst  specimen  of  humanity, 
theoretically  considered,  was  the  person  destined  to  be  my  first 
mesmeric  victim ;  he  being  none  other  than  a  Hindoo  felon  of 
the  hangman  cast,  condemned  to  labour  on  the  roads,  in  irons. 
Accident  alone  determined  my  choice,  and  decided  the  matter  for 
me,  perhaps  much  better  than  theory  would  have  done;  for  I 
should  as  soon  have  thought  of  commencing  operations  on  the 
first  dog  or  pig  I  met  on  the  road,  as  of  selecting  this  man  for 
his  good  mesmeric  "material." 

There  are  some  interesting  particulars  in  this  first  successful 
mesmeric  experiment  in  India,  to  which  I  beg  leave  to  direct  the 
reader's  attention. 

I.  The  purely  accidental  and  unpremeditated  nature  of  the 
experiment. 

II.  All  want  of  consent  between  the  parties. 


40  NATURE   OF    MY   FIRST    EXPERIMENT, 

III.  The  operator's  want  of  belief  in  his  own  power;  for  I 
had  never  seen  Mesmerism,  and  all  I  knew  about  it  was  from 
scraps  in  the  newspapers. 

IV.  The  absolute  ignorance  of  the  patient ;  it  being  impossi- 
ble that  he  should  ever  have  heard  of  Mesmerism. 

V.  The  impossibility,  therefore,  of  imitating  the  mesmeric 
phenomena. 

Under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  collusion  between 
the  parties  will  not,  I  presume,  be  suspected :  and  every  possible 
care  was  taken  to  exclude  any  source  of  fallacy  in  the  experiment. 
European  gentlemen,  sceptical  and  critical,  or  so  strong  in  dis- 
belief that  they  would  have  reasoned  themselves  out  of  their 
senses,  if  they  could :  Ignorant  Hindoos  and  Mussulmanns,  who 
merely  used  their  eyes  and  ears  without  an  attempt  at  reflection, 
will  all  be  found,  by  their  separate  and  independent  reports, 
bearing  testimony  to  the  same  series  of  phenomena.  As  I  might 
never  succeed  again,  I  endeavoured  to  make  this  case  as  perfect 
as  possible  in  all  its  parts,  by  bringing  the  senses  of  different 
people  to  bear  upon  it,  in  all  its  stages ;  and,  I  must  say,  that  I 
cannot  see  any  possible  opening  for  mistake  or  deception.  It 
has  for  many  months  been  before  the  Indian  public,  who  were 
invited  to  point  out  any  source  of  error  that  may  have  escaped 
me,  and  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  disprove  the  facts,  or 
explain  them  away,  except  by  the  easy  and  sweeping  charge  of 
imposition  in  the  patient,  and  delusion  in  the  observers ;  of  the 
probability  of  which  I  shall  now  give  the  reader  the  means  of 
judging. 

First  Experiment. 

Madhab  Kaura,  a  hog-dealer,  condemned  to  seven  years'  im- 
prisonment, with  labour  on  the  roads,  in  irons,  for  wounding  a 
man  so  as  to  endanger  his  life,  has  got  a  double  Hydrocele.  He 
was  ordered  to  be  taken  from  the  jail  to  the  charity  hospital,  to 
be  operated  upon. 

April  4th. — The  water  was  drawn  oflf  one  side  of  the  scrotum, 
and  two  drachms  of  the  usual  cor.  sub.  injection  were  thrown  in. 
On  feeling  the  pain  from  the  injection,  he  threw  his  head  over 
the  back  of  the  chair,  and  pressed  his  hands  along  the  course 
of  the  spermatic  cords,  closing  his  eyelids  firmly,  and  making  the 
grimaces  of  a  man  in  pain.  Seeing  him  suffering  in  this  way,  I 
turned  to  the  native  sub-assistant  surgeon,  an  elcve  of  the  med- 
ical college,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  seen  Mesmerism?    He 


FIRST  SURGICAL  OPKRATION,  4I 

said  that  he  had  seen  it  tried  at  the  medical  college,  but  without 
effect.  Upon  which  I  remarked,  "I  have  a  great  mind  to  try  it 
on  this  man,  but  as  I  never  saw  it  practised,  and  know  it  only 
from  reading,  I  shall  probal^ly  not  succeed." — The  man  continu- 
ing in  the  position  described,  I  placed  his  knees  between  mine, 
and  began  to  pass  my  hands  slowly  over  his  face,  at  the  distance 
of  an  inch,  and  carried  them  down  to  the  pit  of  his  stomach. 
This  was  continued  for  half  an  hour  before  he  was  spoken  to, 
and  when  questioned  at  the  end  of  this  time  his  answers  were 
quite  sensible  and  coherent. 

He  was  ordered  to  rem.ain  quiet,  and  the  passes  were  con- 
tinued for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  longer — still  no  sensible  efifect. 
Being  now  tired  (thermometer  85°,)  I  gave  it  up  in  despair,  and 
declared  it  to  be  a  failure.  While  I  rested  myself,  the  man 
remained  quiet,  and  made  fewer  grimaces,  and  when  ordered  to 
open  his  eyes,  he  said  there  w^as  smoke  in  the  room.  This 
roused  my  attention,  and  tempted  me  to  persevere.  I  now 
breathed  on  his  head,  and  carried  my  hands  from  the  back  of 
his  head  over  his  face  and  down  to  the  epigastrium,  where  I 
pressed  them  united.  The  first  time  this  was  done,  he  took  his 
b.ands  off  his  groins  and  pressed  them  both  firmly  down  upon 
mine ;  drew  a  long  breath,  and  said,  'T  was  his  father  and  mother, 
and  had  given  him  life  again."  The  same  process  was  persevered 
in,  and  in  about  an  hour  he  began  to  gape,  said  he  must  sleep, 
that  his  senses  were  gone ;  and  his  replies  became  incoherent. 
He  opened  his  eyes,  when  ordered,  but  said  he  only  saw  smoke, 
and  could  distinguish  no  one;  his  eyes  were  quite  lustreless,  and 
the  lids  were  opened  heavily.  All  appearance  of  pain  now  dis- 
appeared ;  his  hands  were  crossed  on  his  breast,  instead  of  being 
pressed  on  the  groins,  and  his  countenance  showed  the  most  per- 
fect repose.  He  now  took  no  notice  of  our  questions,  and  I 
called  loudly  on  him  by  name  without  attracting  any  notice, 

I  now  pinched  him,  without  disturbing  him,  and  then  asking 
for  a  pin  in  English,  I  desired  my  assistant  to  watch  him  nar- 
rowly, and  drove  it  into  the  small  of  his  back ;  it  produced  no 
effect  whatever;  and  my  assistant  repeated  it  at  intervals  in 
different  places  as  uselessly.  His  back  had  continued  to  arch 
more  backwards  latterly,  and  he  now  was  in  a  state  of  "opisthoto- 
nos ;"  the  nape  of  his  neck  resting  on  the  sharp  back  of  the  chair, 
and  his  breech  on  the  edge  of  it.  Being  now  satisfied  that  we 
had  got  something  extraordinary,  I  went  over  to  the  Kutcherry, 
and  begged  Mr.  Russell,  the  judge,  and  Mr.  Money,  the  collector, 


42  FIRST  SURGICAL  OPERATION. 

to  come  and  see  what  had  been  done,  as  I  wanted  the  presence 
of  intelligent  witnesses  in  what  remained  to  do.  We  found  him 
in  the  position  I  had  left  him  in,  and  no  hallooing  in  his  ears  could 
attract  his  attention.  Fire  was  then  applied  to  his  knee,  without 
his  shrinking  in  the  least;  and  liquor  ammonise,  that  brought 
tears  into  our  eyes  in  a  moment,  was  inhaled  for  some  minutes 
without  causing  an  eyelid  to  quiver.  This  seemed  to  have  re- 
vived him  a  little,  as  he  moved  his  head  shortly  afterwards,  and 
I  asked  him  if  he  wanted  to  drink;  he  only  gaped  in  reply,  and  I 
took  the  opportunity  to  give,  slowly,  a  mixture  of  ammonia  so 
strong  that  I  could  not  bear  to  taste  it ;  this  he  drank  like  milk, 
and  gaped  for  more.  As  the  "experimentum  crucis,"  I  lifted 
his  head,  and  placed  his  face,  which  was  directed  to  the  ceiling 
all  this  time,  in  front  of  a  full  light ;  opened  his  eyes,  one  after 
the  other,  but  without  producing  any  effect  upon  the  iris ;  his 
eyes  were  exactly  an  amaurotic  person's,  and  all  noticed  their 
lack-lustre  appearance.  We  were  all  now  convinced  that  total 
insensibility  of  all  the  senses  existed,  and  I  ordered  him  to  be 
placed  on  a  mattrass  on  the  floor,  and  not  to  be  disturbed  till  I 
returned.  It  was  now  i  o'clock,  the  process  having  commenced 
at  II  A.  M. 

I  returned  at  3  o'clock,  and  was  vexed  to  find  that  he  had 
awoke,  and  been  carried  back  to  the  jail  hospital.  The  native 
doctor  of  the  jail  had  come  in ;  and  on  hearing  that  the  Sahibs 
could  not  awake  the  patient,  he  set  about  doing  so,  and  succeeded 
by  throwing  water  on  his  face,  &c.  I  again  went  to  Messrs. 
Russell  and  Money,  and  requested  them  to  accompany  me  to 
the  jail,  to  be  present  when  he  was  interrogated  regarding  his 
reminiscences ;  and  we  put  down  a  series  of  questions  to  be  put 
to  him,  at  once,  and  without  explanation.  We  found  him  looking 
well,  with  a  lively  expression  of  face,  and  the  following  questions 
were  put  to  him  ;  his  answers  being  taken  down  at  the  same 
time : — 

"How  do  you  feel?" 

"Very  well." 

"Any  pain  in  the  throat,  or  elsewhere?" 

"A  little  uneasiness  in  the  throat,  no  pain  anywhere  else." 

"What  has  happened  to  you  to-day  ?" 

"I  went  in  the  morning  to  the  Imbarah  Hospital,  to  get  the 
water  taken  out  of  my  scrotum." 


QUESTIONS   PUT  TO  PATIENT.  43 

"Was  the  water  drawn  off?" 

"Yes." 

"What  do  yon  remember  after  tke  operation?" 

"I  went  to  sleep  soon  after,  and  remember  nothing  else." 

"Did  you  eat  or  drink  after  the  operation?" 

"I  felt  thirsty,  but  got  nothing  to  drink  till  Kurreem  Ali,  the 
native  doctor,  awoke  me." 

"Did  any  body  prick,  or  burn  vou?" 

"No,  no>' 

"Did  ycu  smell  anything  disagreeable?" 

"No." 

"Were  vou  happy  when  asleep?" 

"Very." 

"Did  you  hear  anything  when  you  were  asleep?" 

"I  heard  voices,  but  did  not  understand  them." 

"Did  you  see  any  gentleman  in  the  hospital  but  me?" 

"No." 

"Did  you  feel  any  pain  in  the  scrotum  after  going  to  sleep?" 

"I  felt  none  till  I  awoke." 

"Anv  pain  in  that  part  now?" 

"A  very  little." 

"How  many  motions  have  you  had  to-day?"  (he  was  suffer- 
ing from  chronic  diarrhcea.) 

"Four,  before  going  to  the  hospital,  none  since;  belly  is 
much  easier  than  it  has  been  for  some  time." 

Having  answered  all  these  questions  readily  and  frankly,  he 
began  to  cry,  thinking  it  Vv-as  some  kind  of  judicial  investigation, 
I  suppose. 

"The  above  is  an  exact  relation  of  what  took  place  in  our 
presence,  and  we  are  thoroughly  convinced  that  there  was  a  com- 
plete suspension  of  sensibility  to  external  impressions  of  the  most 
painful  kind. 

(Signed)  F.  W.  Russell. 

D.  J.  Money. 
BuDDEN  Crundf,r  Ciiowdaree, 

Sub-Assistant  Surgeon." 

April  5th. — There  is  less  than  the  usual  inflammation,  and 
he  makes  no  complaint.  I  intend  to  operate  on  the  other  side  in 
a  few  days,  mesmerizing  him  first,  if  possible,  and  have  invited 
many  persons  to  be  present. 


44  SECOND  EXPERIMENT. 

Second  Experiment. 

April  6th. — ii  o'clock,  a.  m.  The  inflammation  has  become 
high  during  last  night;  the  part  is  hot,  and  excessively  tender; 
the  lightest  touch  causes  great  pain.  Skin  hot ;  pulse  quick.  I 
could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  satisfying  myself  still  further, 
and  relieve  him  at  the  same  time.  So,  turning  to  the  native  doc- 
tors, I  said  that  I  would  try  the  "Belatee  Muntur"  (the  Europe 
charm,)  and  began  the  process  as  before;  he  lying  in  bed.  In 
ten  minutes  the  mesmeric  haze  (smoke  he  always  calls  it)  was 
produced.  After  half  an  hour  he  still  complained  of  the  pain  in 
the  inflamed  part,  and  could  not  bear  its  being  touched ;  in  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour  the  coma  was  established,  and  I  squeezed  the 
inflamed  part  with  no  more  effect  than  if  it  had  been  a  bladder. 
Having  business  to  attend  to  in  Chandernagore,  six  miles  off, 
I  called,  in  passing,  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  and  said  that  he 
might  now  satisfy  himself  by  going  to  the  hospital  in  my  absence ; 
and  that,  except  mesmeric  means,  he  was  at  liberty  to  use  every 
possible  means  to  awake  him,  or  make  him  feel.  Here  I  have 
the  pleasure  to  introduce  a  report  of  the  proceedings  of  Mr. 
Fisher  and  Mr.  Money  while  I  v»^as  at  Chandernagore : — 

"To  J.  Esdaile,  Esq. 

"My  Dear  Sir, — I  beg  to  certify  that  I  twice  saw  the  native 
whom  you  had  put  into  a  mesmeric  trance,  or  state  of  catalepsy, 
and  from  the  successful  application  of  different  tests  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  stating,  should  my  statement  add  weight  to  your 
own  testimony,  or  be  of  any  service  to  the  cause  of  the  imper- 
fectly known,  and  hitherto  unfairly  treated,  science  of  Mesmer- 
ism, that  the  individual  in  question  was  in  that  state  entirely 
insensible  of  pain,  and  that  I  believe,  if  you  had  cut  his  leg  off, 
he  would  not  have  felt  it.  I  saw,  when  I  was  in  England,  both 
publicly  and  in  private,  many  cases  of  Mesmerism  accompanied 
by  unnatural  and  wonderful  phenomena,  without  being  con- 
vinced. But  your  case  is  one  so  free  from  all  possibility  of  sus- 
picion, that  to  have  doubted  it,  one  might  as  well  have  doubted 
his  own  existence.  Yours  truly, 

"D.  J.  Money. 

"Hooghly,  gth  April,  1845." 

"I  have  only  to  add  to  the  above,  that  I  was  present  upon  the 
last  occasion  referred  to  by  Mr.  Money,  and  fully  concur  with 
him  in  thinking  that  the  patient,  during  the  Mesmeric  trance, 


REPORT   OF   KURREEM    ALT    KHAN.  45 

was  totally  insensible  to  pain.  Indeed,  all  the  senses  appeared 
to  be  unnaturally  suspended  from  any  manifestation  of  their  ordi- 
nary operations,  and  every  available  test  was  tried  in  vain.  Dr. 
Esdaile  upon  this  occasion  was  absent  at  Chandernajjore,  having 
previously  put  the  patient  into  the  trance. 

"F.  FiSIIER." 

Returned  to  the  hospital  at  3  o'clock,  and  found  him  lyinp: 
just  as  I  had  left  him.  Awoke  him  in  a  few  minutes,  by  rapid 
transverse  passes,  blowint,^  in  his  face,  and  giving  water  to  drink. 
Is  free  of  pain,  and  still  desires  to  sleep ;  says  his  head  turns. 

Translation  of  a  Report  from  Kurreem  Ali  Khan,  native  doctor, 
of  what  he  sazv  and  heard  in  the  Jail  Hospital,  on  the  6th 
April,  1845. 

"At  II  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  patient,  Madhab  Kaura,  was  in  a 
fever,  and  there  w^as  an  acute  pain  in  the  scrotum.  The  worthy 
Dr.  Sahib  (may  he  ever  prosper)  came  to  the  hospital,  and  began 
to  do  something  to  him.  When  the  experiment  was  going  on, 
Madhab  was  asked, — 

"What  do  you  see?" 

"I  cannot  see  clearly;  something  like  smoke  is  before  my 

„  >> 
eyes. 

"Do  you  see  the  doors?" 

"No,  nothing  but  snioke." 

"Do  you  see  Dr.  Sahib?" 

"No,  I  see  nobody,  but  perceive  some  one  is  talking  near  me." 

"Is  there  any  pain  in  your  body?" 

"Yes,  breathing  causes  pain  in  the  belly." 

"Is  there  pain  in  the  scrotum?" 

"Yes,  as  acute  as  ever." 

"How  do  you  feel  now?" 

"I  feel  cold  and  sleepy." 

After  the  Doctor  Sahib  had  tried  for  nearly  three-quarters  of 
an  hour,  he  fell  into  a  deep  sleep,  and  there  seemed  to  be  no  pain 
in  the  scrotum ;  he  slept  so  sound,  that  even  the  pricking  of  his 
body  with  a  pin  did  not  restore  his  senses,  or  awake  him.  Before, 
a  touch  of  the  scrotum  was  painful,  but  after  he  was  asleep,  even 
pricking  it  caused  ho  pain  whatever. 

He  continued  in  this  state  for  three  hours,  when,  the  Dr. 
Sahib  calling  him  aloud  twice  or  thrice,  he  came  to  his  senses, 
and  opened  his  eyes.  He  asked  for  water,  which  he  drank,  and, 
feeling  cold,  covered  himself." 


4.6  REPORT    OF    NOBOO. 

Translation  of  a  Report  from  Noboo,  native  doctor,  of  what  he 
saw  and  heard  in  the  Jail  Hospital,  on  the  6th  April,  1845. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  April,  I  went  to  the  hospital, 
and  found  the  body  of  Madhab  Kaura  hot  and  feverish,  and  he 
felt  a  great  pain  in  the  scrotum. 

At  II  o'clock,  Dr.  Esdaile,  the  civil  doctor,  came  and  made 
some  operations  on  the  body:  something  I  do  not  know.  While 
the  operation  was  going  on,  the  patient  was  asked  if  he  could 
see  plainly,  but  said  no.  When  asked  if  he  could  see  any  one, 
he  answered,  that  he  could  see  no  one,  but  knew  by  the  sounds 
that  some  people  were  there. 

Again  he  was  asked  if  he  felt  any  pain ;  he  said,  that  he  felt 
a  severe  pain  in  the  belly,  on  breathing,  and  also  in  the  scrotum, 
and  felt  very  cold.     Soon  afterwards  he  became  senseless. 

At  2  o'clock  p.  M.  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher  and  Mr.  Money  came 
to  the  hospital,  and  tried  to  bring  him  to  his  senses  by  pricking 
him  with  a  pin,  putting  fire  on  his  hand,  and  beating  a  gong  in 
his  ear,  but  all  proved  ineffectual." 

I  forgot  to  note  down  what  these  reports  notice ; — his  com- 
plaining of  feeling  cold  soon  after  the  process  began ;  and  that 
v/hen  I  left  him  the  temperature  of  his  body  was  natural. 

On  these  two  occasions,  the  effects  were  witnessed  by  all  the 
patients  and  hangers-on  in  and  about  both  hospitals. 

April  7th. — Has  had  a  good  night,  is  a  little  feverish ;  pain  in 
the  scrotum  much  less.  He  now  complains,  for  the  first  time,  of 
pain  in  the  places  where  he  was  pricked  and  burned. 

This  makes  one  ashamed  of  incredulity,  and  I  will  never  put 
a  patient  to  the  "question"  in  this  way  again.  It  is  only  excusa- 
ble for  the  first  time,  when  we  can  hardly  believe  the  evidence  of 
our  senses. 

Third  Experiment. 

April  nth. — Took  the  sub-assistant  surgeon  with  me  to-day 
to  the  Jail  Hospital,  and  desired  him  to  watch  the  time  taken  to 
produce  the  different  effects.  There  is  still  considerable  pain  in 
the  side  operated  upon.  Pulse  regular,  60;  skin  warm.  At  11 
o'clock  A.  M.  I  seated  him  on  the  floor  with  his  back  against  the 
wall ;  placed  myself  before  him  on  a  stool,  and  proceeded  pretty 
much  as  before.  The  process,  in  one  particular,  was  varied ;  I 
leaned  my  elbows  upon  my  knees,  placed  my  mouth  over  the 
back  of  my  joined  hands,  and  breathed  along  their  upper  surface ; 
the  points  of  my  fingers  being  pointed  steadily  at  his  eyes,  nose, 


THIRD   EXPERIMENT.  47 

and  forehead,  in  succession.  This  seemed  to  be  very  effectual, 
and  was  done  with  the  idea  of  concentrating  the  mesmeric  influ- 
ence of  the  whole  body  into  one  conductor.  It  was  curious  to 
observe  that  he  had  begun  to  think  on  the  subject,  and  was  ob- 
serving the  effects  for  himself,  and  testing  his  senses  as  we 
proceeded.  After  manipulating  for  a  few  minutes,  he  opened  his 
eyes,  looked  sharply  and  minutely  about  him,  and  being  asked 
if  he  saw  quite  well,  he  said,  "Oh,  yes."  In  a  minute  or  two  he 
repeated  his  inspection,  and  answered  again,  that  he  saw  quite 
distinctly ;  in  seven  minutes  he  again  looked  about  him,  seemed 
surprised,  and  said  he  only  saw  "smoke." 

In  fifteen  minutes  he  was  pinched;  aritl  when  asked  if  any 
one  was  pinching  him,  he  replied  that  he  could  not  tell,  as  I 
might  now  cut  a  piece  out  of  his  body  without  his  feeling  it.  I 
now  tried  for  an  abnormal  mental  manifestation;  certainly  not 
expecting  to  be  gratified.  I  asked, — "What  will  cure  your  com- 
plaint ?" 

"You  know  best." 
"Has  the  Baboo  any  complaint?" 
"How  should  I  know?" 

I  understood  this  as  a  hint  to  attend  to  the  business  in  hand, 
the  body,  and  therefore  proceeded  to  induce  the  mesmeric  coma 
as  quickly  as  possible ;  and  succeeded  in  twenty  minutes  from 
the  commencement.  I  then  said  to  the  sub-assistant  surgeon  that 
I  would  operate  upon  him  in  this  state,  if  I  could  find  some  of 
the  European  gentlemen  to  be  witnesses.  On  going  to  Chin- 
surah,  two  miles  off.  I  fortunately  found  a  considerable  party, 
consisting  of  the  Baron  Law  de  Clapernou,  Governor  of  Chan- 
dernagore,  Mr.  Russell,  the  judge,  Mr.  Wauchope,  the  magis- 
trate, J.  St.  Pourcain,  Esq.,  Mr.  Clint,  Principal  of  Hooghly  Col- 
lege, and  Mr.  Clermont,  head  master  of  the  Lower  School ;  who 
all  accompanied  me  back  to  the  hospital.  The  man  had  fallen 
down,  and  was  lying  on  his  back.  The  large  gong  of  the  jail  was 
brought,  and  struck  violently  within  a  few  inches  of  his  ear, 
with  no  effect.  I  then  pierced  the  scrotum,  and  threw  in  the 
injection,  without  any  one  being  sensible  of  the  smallest  move- 
ment in  his  face  or  body.  His  limbs  were  quite  flexible ;  but  on 
holding  one  of  his  legs  in  my  hand  for  a  few  seconds,  it  grad- 
ually became  quite  rigid,  and  we  could  not  bend  it  again;  the 
same  occurred  in  the  other  leg.  The  arms  were  supple,  and  lay 
in  any  position  into  which  they  were  thrown;  and  when  the 
fore-arm  was  bent  upon  the  humerus,  and  then  let  go,  it  fell 


48  THIRD   EXPERIMENT. 

upwards,  or  downwards,  instantly.  But  on  placing  my  united 
fingers  over  the  ends  of  his,  the  arm  remained  fixed  at  a  right 
angle  in  the  air,  and  swayed  to  and  fro,  according  to  my  move- 
ments.   The  insensibility  of  the  iris  was  also  tested,  and  proved. 

6  o'clock,  r.  M.  Still  sleeps ;  most  complete  relaxation  of  all 
the  limbs  now  exists.  The  legs  and  arms  can  be  tossed  about  in 
every  direction,  and  where  they  fall  there  they  lie.  Being  curious 
to  ascertain  the  effect  of  the  artificial  state  on  the  natural  process 
of  inflammation,  I  did  not  awake  him,  but  saw  that  the  part  was 
as  flaccid  as  when  the  water  was  just  withdrawn. 

April  I2th. — He  av/oke  at  12  o'clock  last  night,  spontaneously. 
Recollects  nothing  aft^r  going  to  sleep ;  sees  the  water  is  gone, 
knows  not  how ;  supposes  the  Dr.  Sahib  did  it.  The  testicle  is 
considerably  enlarged  to-day;  there  is  little  pain,  and  it  did  not 
swell  till  after  he  awoke.  He  has  had  chronic  diarrhoea  for  some 
time;  four  and  five  motions  a  day,  but  has  had  none  since  yes- 
terday forenoon  till  this  morning.  Natural,  artificial,  and  dis- 
eased actions  have  therefore  been  all  equally  arrested  for  the 
last  thirteen  hours ;  a  practical  fact  of  the  utmost  importance, 
which  will  not  be  lost  sight  of  by  myself,  or  others,  I  hope.  What 
a  blessed  prospect  this  opens  to  sufferers  who  may  be  sensible 
to  the  Mesmeric  influence !  In  time  we  may  hope  to  discover 
who  they  are,  by  detecting  the  laws  which  regulate  this  power 
of  Nature,  and  thereby  save  ourselves  much  trouble  and  disap- 
pointment. In  the  mean  time  let  us  accumulate  facts,  as  the  seed 
for  a  correct  theory  hereafter.  Although  I  should  never  succeed 
again,  I  will  in  future  think,  speak,  and  write  of  Mesmerism  as 
being  as  much  a  reality  as  the  principle  of  gravitation,  or  the 
properties  of  opium.  For,  under  all  the  circumstances,  I  cannot 
but  consider  these  to  be  unexceptionable  facts;  and  if  I  should 
not  again  be  able  to  elicit  them,  it  would  not  shake  my  belief  in 
the  existence  of  Mesm.erism;  I  should  only  conclude  that  the 
failure  arose  from  my  ignorance  of  the  conditions  required  by 
Nature,  or  from  some  personal  disqualification.  The  rarity  of 
the  occurrence  would  not  make  it  less  a  reality;  and  to  deny  a 
fact  because  it  has  been  seldom  witnessed,  would  be  as  reasonable 
as  to  doubt  the  existence  of  comets  because  they  are  rare  appear- 
ances. 

Great  weight  is  very  justly  attached  to  first  experiments  in 
any  new  subject  of  investigation,  for  these  are  oiten  a  voluntary 
and  unexpected  evolution  of  the  powers  of  nature ;  and  when  the 
results  surprise  the  experimenter  even,  we  feel  confident  that  he 


THIRD    EXl'KRI.MKNT.  40 

only  relates  what  he  actually  saw,  and  that  he  is  not  seduced, 
by  previous  theory  and  prepossession  of  mind,  to  interpret  ap- 
pearances in  support  of  a  foregone  conclusion.  In  making  these 
experiments,  I  was  in  the  situation  of  a  chemist,  who  has  heard 
that  a  new  elementary  suljstance  had  been  discovered  by  a  cer- 
tain process,  and  who  thereupon  sets  his  apparatus  to  work  in 
the  way  prescribed,  and  is  rewarded  by  obtaining  the  same  results 
as  the  first  discoverer. 

Besides  the  general  results,  I  noted  in  this  case  the  following 
particulars  as  facts,  which  determined  the  course  of  my  future 
proceedings. 

I  was  sure  that  there  could  be  no  imagination  at  work  in  the 
matter. 

That  there  was  no  consent  between  the  parties. 

No  m>cntal  sympathy. 

That  the  patient's  eyes  need  not  be  open. 

I  therefore  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  in  this  instance,  the. 
influence  must  have  been  of  a  purely  physical  description,  and 
on  this  supposition  I  conducted  my  subsequent  experiments  ; 
with  what  success  will  be  shortly  seen. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Mesmerism  the  same  in  India  and  in  Europe. — Examples  of  Mes- 
meric Sleep. — Sealing  of  the  Eyes. — Altered  Sensibility. — 
Temporary  Paralysis. — Muscular  Rigidity. — Insensibility  to 
Pain. — Exaltation  of  particular  Organs. — Convulsions. — De- 
lirium.— Injustice  done  to  the  Memory  of  the  first  Mesmer- 
ists.— Every  available  Evidence  here  given.— Imposture  mor- 
ally and  physically  ijupossiblc. — Mode  of  Proceeding. — 
Mesmeric  and  Non-Mesmeric  Operations  contrasted. — Phy- 
siological Demonstration  of  the  Inipossibility  of  Imposture. 

Having,  by  the  experiments  described  in  the  last  chapter, 
satisfied  myself  of  the  existence  of  the  Mesmeric  power,  I  lost 
no  time  in  applying  it  to  practical  purposes.  The  effects  pro- 
duced were  nearly  as  various  as  the  different  persons  acted  upon, 
and  corresponded  perfectly  with  the  appearances  observed  in 
Europe ;  and  when  the  public  see  the  same  effects  following  like 
causes  on  the  banks  of  the  Thames,  and  the  Seine,  the  Rhine,  and 
the  Hooghly;  I  presume  it  will  conclude,  that  the  same  agent  is 
at  work,  provided  the  same  evidence,  in  support  of  matters  of 
fact,  is  received  for  hot  and  cold  climates,  and  it  is  not  supposed 
that  the  truth  is  affected  by  degrees  of  latitude.  In  a  late  number 
of  the  "British  and  Foreign  Medical  Review,"  the  reviewer  gives 
a  summary  of  the  Mesmeric  symptoms  as  known  to  himself,  and 
recorded  by  various  writers  on  Mesmerism,  and  acknowledges  a 
perfect  accord  in  all  the  accounts  of  the  bodily  phenomena.  The 
following  extract  will  place  these  appearances  succinctly  before 
my  readers,  and  I  beg  them  to  compare  my  account  of  Mesmer- 
ism in  Bengal  with  this  statement  of  its  effects  in  Europe,  and 
then  say  whether  the  identity  of  the  thing  in  the  east  and  west 
is  not  established : — 

"Sometimes,  however,  there  is  said  to  supervene  a  state  of 
coma ;  at  others,  exaltation,  depression,  or  some  anomalous 
modification  of  sensibility;  and  occasionally,  a  state  somewhat 
approaching  to  that  of  reverie,  wherein  the  individual,  although 
conscious,  feels  incapable  of  independent  exertion,  and  spell- 
bound, as  it  were,  to  a  particular  train  of  thought  or  fooling. 
The  occurrence  of  convulsive  action,  and  of  muscular  rigidity, 

50 


MESMERISM    DF.SCRinED.  5 1 

is  described  as  taking  place  in  some  cases  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent.  These  results  are  said  to  constitute  the  simpler  phenom- 
ena of  Mesmerism.  We  shall  illustrate  them  by  some  extracts 
from  accredited  writers  upon  the  subject. 

"In  this  peculiar  state  of  sleep,  the  surface  of  the  body  is 
sometimes  acutely  sensible,  but  more  frequently  the  sense  of 
feeling  is  absolutely  annihilated.  The  jaws  are  firmly  locked, 
and  resist  every  effort  to  wrench  them  open ;  the  joints  are  often 
rigid,  and  the  limbs  inflexible ;  and  not  only  is  the  sense  of  feel- 
ing, but  the  senses  of  smell,  hearing,  and  sight  also,  are  so 
deadened  to  all  external  impressions,  that  no  pungent  odour,  loud 
report,  or  glare  of  light,  can  excite  them  in  the  slightest  degree. 
The  body  may  be  pricked,  pinched,  lacerated,  or  burnt;  fumes 
of  concentrated  liquid  ammonia  may  be  passed  up  the  nostrils ; 
the  loudest  reports  suddenly  made  close  upon  the  ear;  dazzling 
and  intense  light  may  be  thrown  upon  the  pupil  of  the  eye ;  yet  so 
profound  is  the  physical  state  of  lethargy,  that  the  sleeper  will 
remain  undisturbed  and  insensible  to  tortures,  which  in  the  wak- 
ing state,  would  be  intolerable." — (Diipotct,  p.  36.) 

The  above  concise  sketch  corresponds  very  closely  with  what 
is  laid  down  in  other  works  of  Mesmeric  repute.  A  few  brief 
quotations,  exhibiting  this  correspondence,  we  subjoin.  The 
first  we  take  from  Deleuze's  Practical  Instructions,  wherein  he 
states  that  "the  magnetised  feels  the  necessity  of  closing  the 
eyes ;  his  eyes  are  so  sealed  that  he  cannot  open  them ;  he  experi- 
ences a  calm,  a  feeling  of  comfort ;  he  becomes  drowsy ;  he  is 
put  to  sleep." — Teste,  another  writer  of  distinction,  speaking  of 
the  physical  insensibility,  says,  "it  exists,  not  only  in  the  skin, 
but  in  the  subcutaneous  tissues,  in  the  muscles,  and  even  in  the 
nervous  ramifications."  Dr.  Passavant  of  Frankfort,  an  author 
often  referred  to,  avers  as  follows :  "As  an  especial  effect  of 
the  power  of  animal  magnetism,  results  the  magnetic  sleep.  This 
is  mostly  deeper  than  ordinary  sleep,  the  mediation  of  the  senses 
is  yet  more  decidedly  suspended.  The  sensibility  can  so  have 
vanished  in  a  moment,  that  the  loudest  sound,  the  brightest  light, 
even  bodily  injuries,  are  not  perceived  in  this  sleep."  Indeed,  all 
the  authorities  seem  to  coincide  very  much  in  their  accounts,  and, 
this  we  say,  after  referring  to  Chenevix,  Elliotson,  Townshend, 
Gauthier,  Foissac,  and  others." 

1  shall  now  present  to  the  reader  illustrations  of  all  the  sin- 
gular states  of  the  system  described  above,  and  drawn  from  my 
practice  here. 


52  CASES  OF   MESMERISM. 

Mesmeric  Sleep. — This  simulates,  perfectly,  sound  natural 
sleep,  and  is  more  refreshing,  even  if  it  has  been  resorted  to  for 
soothing-  pain,  or  disturbance  of  the  system,  and  can  be  had 
recourse  to  when  it  would  be  improper  or  useless  to  administer 
common  narcotics ; — over  which  it  has  the  advantage  of  not  in- 
ducing a  disagreeable  constitutional  derangement,  after  the  spe- 
cific influence  has  ceased.  The  restorative  powers  of  mesmeric 
sleep  seem  to  depend  upon  an  actual  infusion  of  nervous  vigour 
into  the  body,  and,  when  induced  as  a  remedial  agent,  this  may 
account  for  its  superiority  over  common  sleep. 

April  7th. — Janokee-Sing,  a  hardy  looking  peon  ;  the  wliole 
of  the  scrotum  is  sloughing,  from  the  application  of  some  acrid 
leaves,  and  the  pain  is  most  intense. 

April  15th. — The  whole  scrotum  has  sloughed  oflt;  has  not 
slept  since  coming  to  hospital.  The  compounder,  a  healthy,  in- 
telligent Hindoo,  succeeded  in  putting  him  to  sleep  to-day,  in  half 
an  hour.  He  awoke  when  pinched,  or  called  upon  by  name,  but 
instantly  fell  asleep  again. 

April  i6th. — Has  slept,  almost  without  interruption,  from  11 
o'clock  A.  M.  yesterday  till  7  o'clock  this  morning,  tlie  only  sleep 
he  has  had  since  he  was  burned. 

April  19th. — He  has  been  mesmerised  daily,  and  sleeps  the 
greater  part  of  his  time ;  to  mesmerise  him,  becomes  more  easy 
every  day ; — and  a  few  minutes  no>v  suffice  to  overcome  him. 

April  20th. — Kowsoalla ;  aged  forty,  a  peasant  woman.  I 
subdued  her  to-day,  for  the  first  time,  in  ten  minutes ;  she  awoke 
when  called  upon,  but,  in  a  second,  fell  asleep  again.  The  limbs 
are  quite  loose,  but  when  I  let  them  remain  for  a  moment  in  any 
new  position,  they  become  rigid,  and  require  to  be  dragged  into 
a  new  attitude;  the  muscles  yield  precisely  like  lead,  without  a 
vestige  of  re-action,  when  the  bending  force  is  removed. 

April  25th. — She  can  now  be  mesmerised  in  a  minute. 

May  3rd. — Bissumber  Chowdry :  has  had  retention  of  urine 
for  three  days ;  the  bladder  is  prominent  at  the  navel,  and  no 
instrument  can  be  introduced.  Ordered  to  lie  in  the  easiest  pos- 
ture, and  to  be  put  to  sleep,  if  possible. 

May  4th. — He  slept  for  two  hours  yesterday,  and  voided  his 
urine  freely,  when  he  awoke. 

May  4th. — Deenoo,  a  prisoner;  convalescent  from  cholera,  is 
tormented  with  incessant  hiccough  for  the  last  twenty-four  hours. 
Opii  Grs.  ii. 
Confect.  Arom.  Grs.  x. 


I 


ALTEREQ  SENSiBILTTV.  53 

If  this  does  not  check  it,  a  blister  to  be  applied  over  the  dia- 
phragm. 

May  5th. — No  better — To  be  mesmerised.  I  returned  after 
three  hours,  and  found  him  asleep — awoke  him :  has  no  hiccough. 

May  nth. — No  return  of  tlie  hiccough. 

Scaling  of  the  eyes. — The  quivering  of  the  eyelids,  and  their 
subsequent  spasmodic  closure,  is  one  of  the  most  specific  mes- 
meric symptoms. 

June  27th. — The  woman  Alunga  complains  of  considerable 
pain  from  the  extension  of  her  arm  yesterday,  and  the  nerve  at 
the  elbow  is  very  tender.  I  passed  my  fingers  along  the  course 
of  the  nerve  for  a  few  minutes,  which  removed  the  pain ;  I  then 
held  my  fingers  before  her  eyes,  and  in  a  few  seconds  she  fell 
into  my  arms  quite  insensible.  I  soon  after  awoke  her,  and  she 
sat  up  conversing  with  us  as  usual,  but  could  not  possibly  open 
her  eyes;  when  ordered  to  do  so,  she  was  obliged  to  pull  the 
eyelids  asunder  with  her  fingers ;  but  they  would  not  remain 
open,  and  the  difiliculty  was  only  removed  by  my  rubbing,  and 
blowing  in  her  eyes.  I  have  shown  this  peculiarity,  in  numerous 
cases,  to  great  numbers  of  persons. 

Altered  sensibility. — Rajah  ,  an  intelligent  Hindoo  gen- 
tleman, who  has  received  an  English  education,  and  speaks  our 
language  perfectly  well,  wished  to  be  operated  on  for  hydrocele, 
while  in  the  mesmeric  trance.  After  half  an  hour's  manipulating, 
I  extended  his  arm,  and  it  took  a  fix  in  any  position  I  put  it : 
it  was  put  perpendicular  into  the  air,  and  remained  motionless 
for  ten  minutes ;  on  depressing  it  again,  it  bent  like  lead,  in  the 
true  cataleptic  fashion.  Having  replaced  his  arm  at  his  side, 
I  began  to  open  his  dress,  when  he  awoke  with  a  violent  start, 
and  instantly  said  that  he  had  no  feeling  in  his  arm ;  that  it  was 
very  cold,  which  we  all  felt,  and  on  putting  a  thermometer  into 
his  hand,  we  found  it  to  be  two  degrees  colder  than  the  other. 
He  remembered  my  raising  his  arm,  and  felt  me  let  go  my  hold 
of  his  thumb,  but  what  became  of  his  arm  after  that,  he  could 
not  tell — he  imagined  it  was  lost.  Having  lately  felt  the  sensa- 
tion of  galvanism,  he  said,  that  he  felt  slight  shocks  in  his  skin 
during  the  process,  exactly  like  what  he  had  experienced  from 
galvanism.    I  have  observed  this  in  other  patients. 

Temporary  paralysis  of  muscles. — Madub,  a  shopkeeper.  This 
man  was  operated  on  for  hydrocele,  when  in  the  trance,  without 
feeling  it,  and  ever  since  has  been  very  easily  affected;  I  have, 
therefore,  made  him  the  subject  of  several  experiments.     In  a 


54  CASES  OF  MESMERISM. 

minute  or  two,  his  eyelids  begin  to  quiver,  then  slowly  close, 
opening  heavily  at  short  intervals,  till  at  last  they  remain  closed 
altogether.  If  at  this  stage  he  is  ordered  to  open  his  eyes,  the 
effort  to  do  so  only  strains  the  eyelids,  which  appear  to  be  glued 
together,  and  he  says  it  is  impossible  to  separate  them.  Being 
desired  to  help  himself  with  his  fingers,  he  rubs  his  eyes  vio- 
lently, and  then  forcibly  separates  the  eye-lids,  when  nothing  but 
the  white  of  the  eye  is  seen ;  the  cornea  being  turned  up  to  the 
roof  of  the  orbit.  While  rubbing  his  eyes,  I  sometimes  seize  his 
hands  and  extend  his  arms  horizontally  on  either  side ;  the  arms 
become  fixed  in  a  moment,  and  when  desired  to  apply  his  hands 
to  his  eyes  now,  he  says  that  he  cannot,  that  he  does  not  know 
where  his  arms  are.  If  I  blow  on  one  arm,  or  impel  a  current 
of  air  against  it  by  fanning,  the  rigidity  disappears,  and  he  uses 
his  arm  as  desired,  but  the  other  continues  catalepsed  and  use- 
less, till  relieved  in  the  same  way.  When  I  urge  him  to  use  both 
arms,  he  says  he  has  only  one,  and  on  being  desired  to  seek  for 
the  other,  he  passes  the  flexible  arm  across  his  body,  and  gropes 
at  the  other  side  for  it,  but  soon  gives  up  the  search,  saying,  it 
is  not  there:  being  desired  to  look  for  it  higher  up,  he  carries 
his  hand  up  the  opposite  side  till  he  reaches  the  catalepsed  arm, 
and  tries  in  vain  to  depress  it ;  the  arm  remains  horizontally  ex- 
tended, and  resists  all  his  efforts. 

Muscular  rigidity. — Is  usually  attendant  on  mesmeric  coma, 
of  which  numerous  instances  will  be  given,  when  treating  of  the 
medical  part  of  the  subject.  My  first  patient,  by  repeated  experi- 
ments, became  excessively  sensitive,  and  affords  a  good  specimen 
of  mesmeric  catalepsy. 

May  13th. — Madub  Kaura;  this  man  can  be  catalepsed  in  less 
than  a  minute ;  and  the  effects  are  passing  strange.  If,  when  he 
is  standing,  I  point  my  fingers  at  him  for  a  few  seconds,  his  eye- 
lids immediately  droop,  his  arms  fall  by  their  mere  weight  to  his 
sides ;  his  whole  body  begins  to  tremble,  owing  to  the  incipient 
loss  of  command  over  the  muscular  system;  and,  if  not  supported, 
he  would  fall  down  in  a  heap.  But  give  him  a  moment's  support, 
and  he  becomes  as  rigid  as  a  statue,  and  if  the  centre  of  gravity 
is  well  poised  he  will  remain  in  any  posture  he  is  put  into,  and 
that  for  a  longer  time  than  I  have  waited  to  see.  The  muscles 
must  be  dragged  out  of  the  fixed  position  they  have  assumed, 
and  allowed  a  moment  to  contract  in  a  new  attitude,  out  of  the 
perpendicular;  for  if  suddenly  pushed,  he  goes  down,  head  fore- 
most, like  a  statue  from  its  pedestal,  and  his  life  is  endangered. 


CONVULSIONS. DELIRIUM.  55 

However  inconvenient,  or  grotesque,  tJie  position  may  be,  he  is 
equally  well  satisfied,  and  continues  to  sleep,  quite  comfortably, 
with  his  heels  behind  his  neck ;  and  if  his  forehead  is  placed 
against  the  wall  at  an  acute  angle,  he  remains  sticking  out  from 
it,  like  a  buttress,  longer  than  I  have  ascertained. 

Insensibility  to  pain. — This  will  be  copiously  illustrated  in  m.y 
numerous  surgical  operations. 

Somnambnlisni. — Will  have  a  chapter  to  itself,  and  need  not 
be  now  introduced. 

Exaltation  of  particular  organs, — convulsions, — delirium. — 
Instances  of  all  these  will  occur  in  the  course  of  this  work, 
and  be  found  to  correspond  with  the  irregularities  observed  in 
Europe ;  so  that  the  general  rule,  and  its  exceptions,  will  be  recog- 
nised to  be  the  same  in  the  eastern  and  the  western  hemispheres ; 
thereby  proving  the  universality  of  the  truths  declared  by  many 
honest  and  independent  men,  during  the  last  sixty  years,  and  for 
propounding  which  they  were  laughed  at,  and  scorned. 

Apart  from  the  personal  gratification  of  being  admitted  to  see 
the  secret  processes  of  nature's  workshop,  and  the  advantages 
of  being  able  to  imitate  her  processes,  for  the  alleviation  and 
removal  of  human  suffering;  it  will  be  a  great  satisfaction  to 
me,  if  any  evidence  and  labours  should  assist  in  raising  the  dis- 
honoured dead  into  the  public  consideration  and  respect,  due  to 
them  as  benefactors  of  mankind,  and  in  exciting  a  regret  that 
wisdom  called  so  long  in  the  streets,  without  any  one  regarding 
her. 

I  now  know  (and  I  deplore  my  long  ignorance)  that  the  bat- 
tle was  fought,  and  won,  before  I  was  born,  by  the  truthful  and 
benevolent  Puysegur,  Deleuze,  and  their  companions,  and  that 
I,  under  the  tropics,  am  only  again  demonstrating  what  they,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Seine,  had  long  ago  established.  The  people  of 
the  continent  have  been  familiar  wath  both  the  good  and  evil  of 
Mesmerism  for  the  last  thirty  years,  while  we  in  England  are 
only  now  giving  an  unwilling  ear  to  the  expounders  of  a  law 
of  nature,  which  is  as  much  a  part  of  the  human  constitution  as 
the  processes  of  thought  and  digestion.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that, 
on  this  subject,  our  neighbours  will  no  longer  have  reason  to 
reproach  our  insular  ignorance  and  presumption,  and  that  if  Mes- 
merism is  rejected  by  the  English  public,  it  will  be  after  study 
and  experiment,  and  not  from  prejudice  and  passion. 

Knowing  the  new  and  wonderful  nature  of  the  subject,  and 
that  the  public  was  ill  prepared  to  receive  the  naked  truth  on 


56  IRREFRAGAELE    EVIDENCE 

individual  testimony,  I  have  called  in  all  the  available  evidence 
on  the  spot;  and  the  facts  related  by  me  will  be  found  to  be 
vouched  for  by  disinterested,  honourable,  and  intelligent  gentle- 
men, both  residents  and  strangers;  and  if  there  is  not  a  cloud 
of  European  witnesses,  it  is  simply  because  no  more  exist  in  this 
neighbourhood.  I  would  have  preferred  the  plain  of  Calcutta 
for  my  theatre,  and  all  the  inhabitants  for  spectators,  if  it  had 
been  possible.  All  I  have  done,  or  may  hereafter  do,  has  been 
done,  and  shall  be  done,  in  open  day,  and  every  case  related  has 
had  from  half  a  dozen  to  hundreds  of  witnesses.  The  patients 
are  on  the  spot,  or  can  easily  be  found,  and  a  host  of  eye-witnesses 
are  ready  for  any  one  who  may  take  the  trouble  to  investigate  the 
matter  on  the  spot. 

Taking  these  general  circumstances  into  account,  I  might 
leave  the  cases  to  be  adduced  to  speak  for  themselves,  but  I  hope 
to  be  excused  for  pointing  out  some  particulars  which  will,  I 
trust,  demonstrate  that  imposture,  in  the  generality  of  my  cases, 
is  morally  and  physically  impossible. 

It  is  morally  impossible  that  I  could  have  taught  my  patients 
what  I  did  not  know ;  for  I  knew  not  the  existence  of  the  diversi- 
fied symptoms  they  exhibited,  till,  day  by  day,  I  became  a  witness 
of  their  unexpected  occurrence.  I  had  never  read  a  Mesmeric 
book,  when  I  made  my  first  experiment ;  and  having  succeeded 
In  getting  nature  to  speak,  I  determined  to  listen  only  to  her  for 
some  time,  and  for  months  purposely  refrained  from  reading  on 
the  subject,  in  order  that  my  senses  might  not  be  predisposed  to 
see  things  in  any  particular  light,  and  that  my  judgment  might 
be  left  unbiased  by  the  opinions  of  others.  My  reason  did  not 
teach  me  to  expect  what  was  presented  to  my  senses;  but  was 
gradually  instructed  by  what  I  saw  and  did :  and  all  that  I  know 
about  Mesmerism  has  been  acquired  by  reading  the  book  of 
nature,  without  guide  or  interpreter.  If  I  was  ignorant  of  the 
subject,  the  peasants  and  coolies  of  Bengal  must  have  been 
equally  so,  I  presume.  No  rumour  had  gone  abroad  regarding 
the  existence  of  such  a  power;  Mesmerism  had  not  become  the 
village  talk  in  Bengal,  so  as  to  enable  some  clever  rogue  to 
exhibit  the  phenomena  of  which  he  had  heard: — there  was  no 
type  to  imitate,  therefore  imitation,  in  the  first  instance,  was  im- 
possible. Be  it  observed  also,  that  the  cases  did  not  happen 
among  people  in  hospitals  at  the  same  time,  but  arose,  day  by 
day,  among  patients  newly  arrived  from  diiYerent  parts  of  the 
country.    The  routine  followed  is  ibis.    A  i)crson  presents  himself 


OF  THE  TRUTH    OF   MESMERISM.  57 

before  me  for  the  first  time,  and  I  see  he  has  a  disease  requiring 
an  operation  for  its  removal ;  he  is  desired  to  go  into  another 
room  (which  is  dark,)  and  repose  himself  after  his  journey,  not 
a  word  being  said  about  an  operation,  as  this  would  cause  a 
mental  excitement,  destructive  to  the  mesmeric  influence.  One 
of  my  assistants  follows  him;  seats  himself  (if  unpcrceivcd,  so 
much  the  better,)  at  the  head  of  the  bed ;  and  by  using  the  process 
to  be  hereafter  described,  often  reduces  the  patient  to  a  state  of 
coma  by  the  end  of  my  visit :  I  then  do  what  is  necessary,  whether 
it  be  to  take  off,  or  straighten  a  limb,  without  his  knowledge  or 
consent.  Now,  supposing  these  poor  ignorant  people  to  be  im- 
postors, whence  comes  their  intimate  knowledge  of  the  mesmeric 
phenomena,  from  the  quivering  of  an  eye-lid  onwards  to  insensi- 
bility to  the  most  cruel  tortures?  If  they  are  not  what  they  seem 
to  be,  then  are  they  heaven-born  impostors,  or  have  had  super- 
natural instruction, — on  earth  they  could  not  have  learned  it. 

It  may  be  said,  that  it  is  the  taste  of  the  coolies  of  Bengal  to 
have  themselves  cut  to  pieces,  and  to  have  corrosive  acids,  and 
red-hot  pokers  applied  to  their  sores,  without  showing  a  sign  of 
life;  or  that,  knowing  my  hobby,  they  come  from  all  quarters  to 
be  silently  tormented,  in  order  to  please  my  Honour.  Or  we  may  - 
be  told,  that  the  passive  endurance  of  pain  is  no  sign  of  the  ab- 
sence of  it,  for  the  North  American  invites  his  enemy  to  tear  him 
at  the  stake,  and  the  Indian  Fuqueer  voluntarily  torments  himself. 

To  do  justice  to  this  ingenious  hypothesis,  I  shall  present  the 
reader  with  some  examples  of  the  way  in  which  pain  is  borne  by 
my  patients,  in  the  mesmeric  and  non-mesmeric  condition  of  the 
body. 

June  I2th. — Lokee,  a  peasant  woman,  aged  60,  has  a  tumour  ^ 
on  the  calf  of  the  leg  of  nine  years'  standing;  it  is  full  of  deep  ' 
ulcerations  and  maggots.  I  tried  to  subdue  her  yesterday,  but 
the  pain  did  not  allow  her  to  get  beyond  common  sleep.  To-day,  j 
after  much  trouble,  first  by  one  person,  and  then  another,  she  was  / 
entranced,  and  I  cut  out  the  tumour  in  the  presence  of  Captain  ' 
Elder,  without  her  feeling  it,  and  we  left  her  sleeping.  I 

June  13th. — She  awoke  three  hours  after  the  operation ;  felt 
no  pain  on  waking,  and  asked  me  to-day,  who  cut  off  the  tumour?  v/'' 

Oct.  24th. — The  woman  Lokee  has  come  back  to  hospital,  with 
a  return  of  the  tumour,  cut  out  in  June  last,  to  be  mesmerised. 

Oct.  27th. — She  has  been  mesmerised  daily,  for  two  hours, 
but  without  effect.  I  therefore  operated  on  her  to-day,  as  we 
could  spare  no  more  time  for  her,  others  requiring  equal  atten- 


58  INSENSIBILITY  TO  PAIN 

tion.  The  poor  old  woman  screamed  miserably  the  whole  time, 
crying,  that  I  was  murdering  her ;  and  she  continued  in  the  great- 
est pain  for  hours  afterwards. 

If  the  old  woman  shammed  insensibility  on  the  first  occasion, 
why  did  she  not  do  so  on  the  second?  She  had  had  practice; 
every  facility  and  encouragement  were  given  her,  and  she  knew 
what  was  wanted  of  her,  and  yet  would  not  pretend  to  be  asleep ! 

This  perverse  and  inconsistent  conduct  appears  to  me  to  be 
easily  accounted  for,  from  the  very  fact  of  her  being  aware  of 
what  was  wanted  and  intended  to  be  done ;  her  anxiety  to  go  to 
sleep  neutralised  her  good  intentions : — excitement  of  mind  being 
destructive  of  the  mesmeric  influence  for  the  production  of  coma. 

August  13th. — Dr.  Finch  freely  applied  muriatic  acid  (such 
as  is  furnished  by  the  Company's  dispensary)  to  a  sore,  covering 
all  the  right  temple  of  the  woman  Gendo  (who  was  mesmerised, 
in  his  presence,  by  one  of  my  assistants,)  without  her  showing 
the  smallest  degree  of  consciousness ;  and  it  was  with  great  diffi- 
culty I  awoke  her,  after  he  had  failed  to  do  so.  During  the  burn- 
ing with  the  acid,  her  pulse  fell  from  88°  to  80°,  and  her  respira- 
tion, which  was  quite  natural  before  she  was  mesmerised,  became 
entirely  diaphragmatic,  and  abdominal ;  the  voluntary  and  semi- 
voluntary  muscles  of  the  chest  being  completely  paralysed. 

August  i8th. — Dr.  Bedford  to-day  asked  permission  to  apply 
the  acid  to  the  woman  Gendo's  sore,  when  she  was  awake ;  and 
though  I  thought  this  most  irrational  scepticism  (he  having  wit- 
nessed Dr.  Finch's  experiment)  I  consented,  in  order  that  it 
might  not  be  said  that  I  interfered  to  save  my  phenomena.  He 
accordingly  wetted  the  end  of  the  glass  stopper  with  the  acid, 
and  touched  the  sore  with  it,  and  the  woman,  for  a  few  seconds, 
did  not  show  any  signs  of  acute  pain.  There  could  be  no  doubt 
about  it,  she  was  found  out!  The  arch  deceiver,  having  set  a 
snare  and  delusion  for  me,  was  now  laughing  at  my  beard ;  and 
I  was  not  relieved  from  my  thick-coming  fancies  by  Dr.  B.  kindly 
suggesting,  "that  she  was  probably  a  very  insensible  person 
naturally."  I  was  soon  roused  from  my  trance  of  bewilderment, 
however,  by  hearing  the  woman  cry  out,  that  "we  had  put  pepper 
to  her  head  !"  and  she  sat  up,  showing  signs  of  great  pain  ;  imme- 
diately after,  she  declared  "her  head  was  on  fire,"  and  got  out  of 
bed,  walking  about  distractedly  in  great  agony.  I  ordered  her 
head  to  be  bathed,  and,  as  the  best  anodyne,  threw  her  into  the 
trance :  the  sore  being  surrotmdcd  by  tubercles,  which  retarded  its 
healing,  I  took  the  opporlunity  to  pare  them  oft";  and  to  this  she 


WtflTLR  IN   MESMERIC  TRANCE.  59 

was  perfectly  indifferent.  In  half  an  hour,  I  awoke  her  with 
much  difficulty,  in  order  that  Dr.  I>.  might  hear  her  first  words, 
which  were,  that  she  knew  nothing  about  what  we  were  talking 
of,  having  even  forgotten  the  burning ;  an  invasion  of  the  waking 
by  the  sleeping  state,  which  will  be  seen  in  another  patient,  when 
Mrs.  Clermont's  case  is  given.  So  that  if  Mesmerism  did  not 
protect  this  old  woman,  we  have  the  curious  fact  of  muriatic  acid, 
applied  in  large  quantities  to  a  raw  surface  by  Dr.  Finch,  acting 
as  a  direct  anodyne  and  narcotic,  calming  at  the  same  time  the 
circulation,  and  revolutionising  the  respiration,  while  a  drop  in 
the  hands  of  Dr.  Bedford  causes  the  greatest  suffering  and  gen- 
eral excitement ! — "Non  nobis  fanfas  componcre  lites." 

Oct.  loth. — Beppo  Dass,  a  prisoner,  was  entranced  to-day; 
in  the  presence  of  Dr.  Roer,  Mr.  Bradbury,  Major  Riddell,  Mr. 
Higgins,  Mr.  Muller,  Mr.  Graves,  Messrs,  Savigny,  Mr.  Bartlett ; 
and  I  operated  on  him  for  hydrocele.  The  injection  was  thrown 
in  without  his  showing  a  vestige  of  feeling,  and  his  arm,  which 
I  had  placed  in  the  air,  on  purpose,  at  the  commencement,  never 
moved,  and  had  to  be  taken  down  after  the  operation ;  this  was 
the  second  operation  performed  on  the  man  during  the  last  fort- 
night; and  on  both  occasions  he  slept  for  two  hours  afterwards, 
knew  nothing  of  what  had  happened  on  waking,  and  felt  no  pain 
till  the  artificial  inflammation  commenced  at  9  o'clock  at  night ; 
the  operation  having  been  performed  at  noon.  This  has  been 
called  a  painless  operation. 

"They  laugh  at  scars  who  never  felt  a  wound," 

and  I  shall  therefore  transcribe  a  passage  from  a  friend's  letter, 
written  shortly  after  the  publication  of  my  first  case. 

"When  I  was  first  operated  on,  some  years  ago,  for  hydrocele, 
and  the  injection  was  thrown  up,  the  pain  was  like  a  coir  rope, 
round  my  loins,  being  pulled  at  each  end  by  some  persons  as  hard 
as  they  could ;  and  the  perspiration  ran  down  my  head  as  if  some 
one  was  sprinkling  water  on  my  hair ;  so  this  is  what  you  have 
laid  dormant  by  your  Mesmerism." 

But  it  is  for  the  sequel  of  this  case,  that  I  here  quote  it,  and 
in  order  to  show  the  man's  behaviour  in  his  natural  and  artificial 
states.  On  the  day  after  the  operation,  the  inflammation  is 
usually  high,  and  from  the  sensitive  nature  of  the  parts,  pressure 
is  excessively  painful.  Now,  on  both  occasions,  I  have  requested 
numerous  gentlemen  to  press  the  part,  and  ascertain  if  it  was 
really  painful:    "a  question  not  to  be  asked,"  was  always  their 


6o  MESMERIC  FACTS. 

reply.  The  man  was  then  entranced,  and  the  experiment  repeated 
by  the  same  persons,  when  he  allowed  the  part  to  be  pressed  as 
if  it  was  a  bottle : — he  was  then  awakened,  and  on  being  now 
pressed,  showed  all  the  signs  of  instant  and  acute  pain. 

The  cases  above  cited,  along  with,  if  I  may  use  the  expres- 
sion, very  numerous  painless  severe  surgical  operations,  might 
be  safely  adduced  as  demonstrations  of  the  physical  impossibility 
of  imposture ;  but  I  shall  now  submit  to  the  physiologist  a  series 
of  facts  which,  to  him,  will  be  more  convincing  than  all  the  cut- 
ting, tearing,  and  lacerating  we  can  invent.  For  although  we 
may  pretty  certainly  conclude,  that  men  will  not  exhibit  insen- 
sibility to  torture,  without  some  adequate  object  to  be  gained, 
yet  the  incentive  may  escape  our  observation,  or  be  unintelligible 
to  us.  It  is,  therefore,  desirable  to  discover  something  which 
it  was  impossible  for  a  man  in  a  natural  condition  to  do,  under 
the  influence  of  any  passion,  or  under  the  temptation  of  the 
highest  bribe.  To  perform  the  following  feats,  will,  I  imagine, 
be  found  above  the  power  of  the  most  accomplished  impostor : 
to  keep  the  pupils  dilated,  without  the  use  of  drugs,  in  passing 
from  darkness  into  sunshine, — to  lower  the  pulse  at  pleasure, — 
to  breathe  only  by  the  diaphragm,  for  hours,  and  diminish  the 
temperature  of  the  body,  at  will.  The  dilation  and  insensibility 
of  the  pupil  are  recorded  in  my  first  case,  and  have  since  been 
frequently  seen. 

June  nth. — Kaloo,  a  Fuqueer,  has  an  excrescence,  larger  than 
a  man's  fist,  at  the  end  of  his  penis,  and  the  body  of  the  organ  is 
also  much  enlarged.  I  entranced  him  in  a  few  minutes,  on  the 
first  trial,  and  in  the  presence  of  Major  Riddell,  Captain  Ander- 
son, Mr.  Bennett,  and  Mr.  Jackson,  dissected  out  the  organ,  but 
was  obliged  to  sacrifice  the  glans,  as  it  was  a  cartilaginous  degen- 
eration of  all  the  structures  of  the  part : — the  man  did  not  awake 
till  I  was  amputating  the  organ,  after  a  long  dissection.  Won- 
derful to  say,  he  relapsed  into  the  trance  again  in  a  few  minutes, 
and  remained  for  twenty  minutes,  quite  rigid,  and  insensible,  with 
his  eyes  wide  open,  and  the  pupils  dilated,  in  a  full  noonday  light, 
»to  which  they  Vv'ere  wholly  insensible.  This  is  not  the  only  in- 
stance in  which  the  eyes  have  been  wide  open  during  the  trance, 
and  would  not  remain  shut  when  I  closed  them,  showing,  I  con- 
ceive, the  absolute  extinction  of  muscular  power.  In  most  cases 
the  muscles  of  the  eyeball  continue  to  act  involuntarily,  after  the 
rest  of  the  muscular  system  has  gone  to  rest,  and  on  opening  the 
eyelids,  the  ball  of  the  eye  is  seen  rolling  round  the  orbit,  like  an 


MKSMKRIC  FACTS.  6l 

agitated  magnetic  needle.  Under  the  most  intense  degree  of  the 
influence,  the  msuclcs  of  the  eye,  and  iris,  also  lose  their  con- 
tractibility,  and  the  eye  becomes  as  motionless  and  insensible  to 
light  as  that  of  a  dead  man.  That  the  second  trance  was  not  a 
faint,  we  all  satisfied  ourselves,  not  only  from  the  general  rigidity 
of  the  body,  but  from  the  regular  natural  pulse. 

Sept.  17th. — In  the  presence  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Fisher  and 
Dr.  Heathcote,  I  to-day  operated  for  cataract  on  a  man  while  in 
the  mesmeric  trance.  The  pupil  was  so  much  dilated  that  Dr.  H. 
asked  if  belladonna  had  been  applied?  After  depressing  the  lens, 
and  withdrawing  the  needle,  the  lens  rose  again,  and  such  was 
the  continued  dilation  of  the  pupil,  that  it  passed  into  the  anterior 
chamber,  and  came  in  contact  with  the  cornea ;  the  man  being 
insensible  all  the  time. 

Sept.  i8th. — To-day,  in  the  presence  of  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Bradbury,  T  entranced  a  man  for  the  first  time,  in  the  hope  of 
subduing  an  inflammation  of  one  eye,  by  removing  all  pain  and 
irritation,  and  thereby  allowing  the  restorative  powers  of  nature 
to  act  undisturbed ;  he  was  entranced  sitting  on  a  stool,  in  order 
to  lessen  the  flow  of  blood  to  the  head.  We  counted  his  pulse 
beforehand ;  it  was  100  in  the  minute ;  respiration  20 ;  thoracic 
movement  natural ;  temperature  higher  than  usual.  After  20 
minutes,  his  pulse  had  sunk  to  70,  his  respiration  to  18,  and,  by 
comparing  his  chest  with  that  of  a  man  lying  alongside  of  him, 
we  ascertained  that  there  was  not  a  vestige  of  thoracic  movement. 
All  above  the  diphragm  was  as  fixed  as  the  trunk  of  a  statue, 
and  the  temperature  of  his  body  had  become  lower  than  natural. 

If  these  tests  are  not  considered  an  "cxperimentum  crucis," 
I  am  at  a  loss  to  imagine  what  will  be  reckoned  more  satisfactory 
by  the  human  physiologist.  It  appears  to  me,  that  when  we  see 
the  involuntary  organs  of  the  body  revolutionised,  it  is  absurd 
to  attribute  it  to  the  effect  of  the  will. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Somnamhnlism. — Definition. — Singular  Introduction  to  it. — Sus- 
pected Child-Stealing  by  its  Means. — First  Experiment  in 
making  a  Somnambulist. — Trial  of  Mesmeric  Skill  in  a  Court 
of  Justice. — Men  stolen  out  of  Court. — Truth  of  Mesmerism 
publicly  proved. — Natural  Sleep,  and  its  Varieties,  can  be 
imitated  by  Artificial  Means. — Mesmeric  Sleep. — Mesmeric 
Day-marc. — Mesmeric  Slcep-zualking. — Mesmeric  Sleep-wak- 
ing.— Mesmeric  Dreaming. — How  to  make  Somnambulists. — 
Imitative  Stage  of  Somnambulism. — Communicative  Stage  of 
Somnambulism. — Mesmeric  Catalepsy. — Mesmeric  Coma. — 
Natural  Clairvoyance. — Mesmeric  Clairvoyance. — Nature  of 
the  Mesmeric  Pozuer. — Illustrative  Examples. 

Before  submitting  to  the  reader  the  results  of  my  observa- 
tions on  somnambuHsm,  I  beg  leave  to  prefix  the  following  sum- 
mary of  the  appearances  recognised  as  distinctive  of  the  som- 
nambulistic state  in  Europe.  It  is  given  in  the  British  and 
Foreign  Medical  Review,  already  quoted : — "Somnambulism  is 
a  condition  in  which  certain  senses  and  faculties  are  suppressed, 
or  rendered  thoroughly  impassive,  whilst  others  prevail  in  most 
unwonted  exaltation ;  in  which  an  individual,  though  asleep,  feels 
and  acts  most  energetically,  holding  an  anomalous  species  of  com- 
munication with  the  external  world,  awake  to  objects  of  atten- 
tion, and  most  profoundly  torpid  to  things  at  the  time  indifferent ; 
a  condition  respecting  which,  most  commonly,  the  patient  on 
awaking  retains  no  recollection ;  but,  on  any  relapse  into  which 
a  train  of  thought  and  feeling  related  to,  and  associated  with, 
the  antecedent  paroxysm,  will  very  often  be  developed." 

I  intended  to  have  reserved  this  branch  of  the  subject  till  I 
had  examined  it  in  all  its  purely  medical  bearings ;  but  I  was 
forced,  by  most  extraordinary  circumstances,  to  enter  prematurely 
into  this  difficult  and  obscure  field  of  experiment,  in  order  to 
enable  me  to  give  my  evidence  in  a  court  of  justice ;  and  in  de- 
scribing my  experiments,  I  hope  it  will  be  borne  in  mind,  that  I 
had  never  seen  a  somnambulist,  or  thought  of  making  one,  up 
to  this  date.    My  first  essay  was  as  extemporaneous  and  accidental 

62 


SOMNAMBULISM.  63 

as  the  production  o:  mesmeric  coma,  on  the  first  occasion  I  tried 
to  mesmerise : — the  facts  are  simply  these. 

June  17th. — About  a  fortnight  ago,  I  was  driving  through 
Hooghly  Bazaar,  and  saw  a  crowd  collected  before  the  police 
office.  On  asking  what  was  the  matter,  I  was  told  that  a  man 
had  been  apprehended  in  the  act  of  stealing  a  boy,  and  that  the 
parties  were  inside  the  guard-house.  Upon  hearing  this,  I 
entered  the  house,  and  found  a  boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years  old, 
sitting  on  the  lap  of  a  man  who  w^as  said  to  have  rescuerl  him. 
The  boy  was  half  stupid,  and  one  of  his  eyes  was  swollen ;  I 
therefore  ordered  him  to  be  taken  to  the  hospital.  The  culprit 
was  then  shown  to  me.  He  said  he  was  a  barber ;  and  a  bundle 
containing  his  instruments  of  trade,  was  produced ;  this  I  care- 
fully examined,  but  only  found  the  usual  barber's  tools.  The 
boy  soon  recovered  his  senses,  and  told  me,  readily  and  con- 
sistently, the  following  tale,  which  I  again  heard  him  repeat 
before  the  magistrate,  in  a  different  sequence,  but  without  a  tittle 
of  variation.  He  said,  that  early  in  the  morning  he  went  into  a 
field  close  to  a  house,  and  that  shortly  after,  a  strange  man  left 
the  road,  and  came  up  to  him:  as  soon  as  he  was  near  him,  he 
began  to  mutter  charms,  and  then  took  hold  of  his  hand ;  very 
soon  after,  he  passed  his  hand  across  his  eyes,  and  that  thereupon 
he  lost  his  senses,  and  only  recollected  that  the  man  led  him  away, 
but  without  force,  and  that  he  felt  compelled  to  follow  him.  When 
he  came  to  his  senses,  it  was  at  the  gate  of  Chandernagore,  two 
miles  from  where  he  had  met  the  man ;  and  this  was  all  he  had 
to  say.  He  had  not  eaten,  drunk,  or  smoked,  in  company  with 
the  man ;  and  his  master  and  friends  all  said  he  was  a  clever, 
well-behaved  boy,  and  had  never  been  known  to  have  fits,  or 
walk  in  his  sleep.  I  then  examined  the  man  who  was  said  to 
have  rescued  him :  his  evidence  was  to  this  effect ;  that  on  the 
morning  in  question,  he  saw  the  boy,  whom  he  knew  very  well, 
following  a  strange  man ;  that  he  stopped  him,  and  asked  what 
he  was  doing  there?  The  boy  made  no  answ^er,  and  appeared 
to  be  idiotic :  upon  seeing  this,  he  became  alarmed,  brought  water 
to  throw  on  his  face,  and  used  other  means  to  revive  him ;  in 
which  he  at  last  succeeded.  On  again  questioning  him,  he  said 
that  he  did  not  know  why  he  was  there ;  that  he  was  obliged  to 
follow  that  man,  though  he  did  not  know  him,  and  after  saying 
this,  he  fell  down,  and  bruised  his  eye  on  the  ground.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  man  was  making  off,  but  was  apprehended,  and 
brought  to  Hooghly.    I  then  called  in  the  barber;  and  this  was 


64  FIRST    EXrERIMENT 

his  story :  lie  met  the  boy  on  the  road  crying  and  looking  stupid, 
and  on  asking  him  what  ailed  him  he  said  that  he  had  lost  his 
way.  Upon  hearing  this,  he  desired  the  boy  to  accompany  him 
to  the  police  station,  and  that  a  policeman  would  take  him  home. 
The  strange  nature  of  the  transaction,  whichever  side  was  true, 
strongly  arrested  my  attention,  and  the  trade  of  the  man  roused 
my  suspicions ;  as  I  had  heard  that  barbers  in  this  country,  while 
performing  their  tedious  processes,  could  put  people  to  sleep; 
and  reports  are  rife,  all  ever  the  country,  of  people  having  been 
obliged  to  follow  persons  who  had  charmed  them ;  and  the  victims 
are  said  to  be  usually  women.  The  barbers,  all  over  the  world, 
are  a  shrewd,  observing  race;  their  occupation  brings  them  into 
close  contact  with  the  surfaces  most  sensitive  to  the  mesmeric 
influence;  and  they  are,  therefore,  very  likely  to  have  become 
possessed  of  the  secret  of  Mesmerism  at  an  early  period,  and 
perhaps  it  has  descended  to  them  as  a  mystery  of  their  craft.  I 
could  only  see  two  roads  out  of  the  dilemma :  it  was  either  a  case 
of  natural,  or  artificial  somnambulism ;  and  if  the  latter,  how 
could  it  be  brought  about  unless  by  Mesmerism?  As  accident 
had  made  me  a  witness  in  the  case,  I  anticipated  that  I  should 
be  called  upon  to  speak  as  to  the  possibility  of  such  a  mode  of 
abduction ;  and  as  I  was  completely  ignorant  of  the  subject,  I 
determined  to  make  experiments,  to  satisfy  myself.  I  thought 
it  probable,  that  if  this  could  be  done  by  Mesmerism,  I  should 
perhaps  be  able  to  imitate  it,  as  the  greater  power  includes  the 
less ;  and  that  I  had  only  to  stop  short  in  the  progress  to  insensi- 
bility, in  order  to  produce  like  effects,  if  obtainable  by  this  means. 
I  therefore  repaired  to  the  Jail  Hospital,  and  mesmerised  a 
man ;  in  whom  I  had  subdued  inflammation  of  the  eye,  by  en- 
trancing him  several  times ;  but  only  went  to  the  extent  of  induc- 
ing the  cataleptic  tendency,  and  leaving  him  the  power  of  moving 
and  hearing,  but  very  imperfectly.  At  this  point,  I  led  him  away, 
and  then  letting  him  go,  he  stalked  to  the  other  end  of  the  en- 
closure, till  brought  up  by  the  wall ;  being  turned,  he  walked  in  a 
straight  line  till  some  obstacle  obstructed  him, and  then  stood  help- 
lessly still.  If  allowed  to  stand  motionless  for  some  minutes,  the 
trance  deepened,  and  he  became  insensible  to  sounds ;  by  blowing 
in  his  eyes,  and  addressing  him  all  the  time,  he  revived,  and  re- 
peated after  me,  with  great  exactness,  both  English  and  Hindo- 
stanee;  on  awakening  him,  he  had  no  recollection  of  any  part  of 
his  proceedings,  and  said  that  he  had  never  stirred  from  the  spot, 
although  he  was  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  enclosure  from  where 


IN    MAKIXC,    A    S(JMNAMBULIST.  6$ 

we  commenced.  Being  summoned  to  the  Magistrate's  Court  as 
a  witness,  I  was  asked,  "if  I  thought  it  practicable  to  carry  off  a 
person  in  the  way  described  in  the  evidence?"  I  rephed,  that 
"I  thought  it  possible,  because  I  had  just  done  something  very 
like  it,  by  making  a  prisoner  follow  me  round  the  hospital  en- 
closure, without  his  knowing  it."  The  magistrate  committed  the 
case;  but  when  it  came  to  be  tried  before  the  judge,  it  was  found 
to  be  utterly  impossible  to  convey  even  a  glimpse  of  my  meaning 
in  the  minds  of  the  native  law  officers  who  had  to  try  tlie  case; 
and  the  judge  therefore  asked  me  if  I  had  any  objection  to  show 
the  Moulavies  in  court  that  it  was  possible  for  one  person  to  make 
another  follow  him  involuntarily,  as  I  said.  I  answered,  that  I 
was  willing  to  make  the  experiment,  but  would  engage  to  do 
nothing:  if  he  would  order  three  men,  whom  I  named,  to  be 
sent  for  to  Court,  I  would  try  what  could  be  done, — the  men  to 
be  kept  in  total  ignorance  of  our  intentions. 

In  a  Jay  or  two  after,  I  was  requested  to  attend  the  judge's 
court,  which  was  crowded  with  Europeans  and  natives.  Nazir 
Mahomed  was  brought  in,  and  placed  at  the  bar :  I  mesmerised 
him  in  a  few  minutes,  and  led  him,  \vith  his  arms  catalepsed,  out 
of  the  court,  and  set  him  walking  down  the  road  for  some  dis- 
tance, making  his  arms  rigid  in  any  position,  as  long  as  I  pleased. 
T  then  replaced  him  at  the  bar,  where  the  judge  and  Moulavies 
all  addressed  him,  without  his  paying  any  attention  to  them ;  and 
they  were  obliged  to  ask  me  to  av/ake  him..  This  I  did,  and 
on  being  asked  from  the  bench,  if  he  had  left  the  room  since  he 
first  entered  it,  he  confidently  answered,  "No."  While  they  were 
speaking  to  him  in  front,  I  approached,  unperceived,  behind,  and 
entranced  him  on  the  spot,  in  the  act  of  speaking.  The  words 
died  on  his  lips,  and  he  became  insensible  to  all  voices  that 
addressed  him ;  he  Vv?as  again  awoke  by  blowing  in  his  eyes. 
Madub  was  put  in  the  dock,  and  he  did  not  see  me  on  entering. 
The  judge  and  Moulavies  engaged  him  in  conversation,  and 
while  he  was  speaking  with  animation  and  intelligence,  I  cata- 
lepsed him  from  behind,  while  in  the  usual  praying  attitude  of 
a  prisoner  at  the  bar,  and,  in  a  moment,  he  ceased  to  speak  or 
hear:  I  was  told  by  those  in  front,  that  his  lips  moved  as  if  in 
the  act  of  speaking,  after  he  ceased  to  be  heard.  He  was  so 
deeply  affected  that  all  motive  power  w^as  nearly  extinguished, 
and  I  had  to  push  him  from  behind  with  my  finger,  to  make  him 
walk:  he  walked  a  few  yards  with  difficulty,  and  then  becoming 
suddenly  rigid  from  head  to  foot,  a  slight  push  sent  him  down 


66  TRIAL  OF    MESMERIC   SKILL 

licadlong  upon  the  floor,  in  a  most  alarming  manner :  the  fit  of 
rigidity  was  so  instantaneous  that  I  was  not  aware  of  it-  He 
was  revived  with  some  difficulty,  and  fortunately  was  not  injured 
by  his  fall. 

Sooroop  Chund  was  next  brought  in,  and,  as  I  had  not  seen 
him  for  a  month,  I  began  asking  him  about  his  health,  &c.,  mes- 
merising him  all  the  time.  In  a  few  minutes,  he  ceased  to  answer, 
and  I  took  him  out  of  the  dock,  turned  him  round  like  a  teetotum, 
his  arms  rigidly  fixed  all  the  time,  and  then  restored  him  to  his 
former  place  in  a  state  of  complete  insensibility ;  no  one  could 
make  him  hear,  or  show  the  slightest  sign  of  life.  When  I 
blew  in  his  eyes,  he  instantly  recovered  his  senses,  and  declared 
he  had  never  left  the  spot. 

Whether  the  barber  stole  the  boy  mesmerically  or  not,  I  will 
not  pretend  to  decide,  but  it  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  proving, 
in  the  most  public  manner,  that  the  thing  could  be  done,  and  no 
one  has  ventured  to  deny  publicly  that  I  stole  the  men ;  and,  with 
the  facilities  of  a  native  barber,  I  could  almost  engage  to  steal  a 
man,  woman,  or  child,  daily.  From  the  moment  that  I  witnessed 
the  extreme  degrees  of  Mesmerism,  I  became  deeply  impressed 
with  a  conviction  of  its  power  for  evil  as  well  as  good ;  and  I 
have  driven  it  thus  far,  in  the  hope  of  rousing  the  public  mind 
to  a  sense  of  the  dangers,  as  well  as  benefits,  that  may  be  expected 
from  it ;  and  I  trust  the  day  is  not  distant,  when  public  opinion 
will  strongly  condemn  all  those  who  practise  the  art,  except  for 
philosophic  and  medical  purposes. 

That  the  barber  was  in  illegal  possession  of  the  boy's  person, 
however  obtained,  was  so  clear,  that  he  was  sentenced  to  nine 
years'  imprisonment,  and  labour  in  irons ;  and  the  sentence  was 
confirmed  by  the  superior  court.  But  the  government  called  for 
the  proceedings,  and  thinking,  I  suppose,  that  the  mesmeric  ex- 
periments had  made  too  deep  an  impression  on  the  mind  of  the_ 
court,  graciously  pardoned  the  barber. 

When  puzzled  by  the  unexpected  exhibition  of  new  and  won- 
derful bodily,  or  mental  phenomena,  instead  of  solving  our  diffi- 
culties by  denying  the  existence  of  the  phenomena,  or  dismissing 
them  contemptuously  as  the  offspring  of  deception,  or  delusion, 
we  shall  do  much  better,  and  generally  be  nearer  the  truth,  if  we 
suspect  that  we  have  overlooked  some  power  of  the  human  con- 
stitution, and  resolve  diligently  to  betake  ourselves  to  the  study 
of  the  nature  of  the  new  agent.  Like  the  careless  knitter,  we 
find,  at  the  end  of  our  work,  tliat  some  stitches  have  been  dropped. 


IN    A    COURT    OF    JUSTICE.  67 

and  that  wc  must  recommence  our  work  dc  novo.  By  a  com- 
parison of  the  effects  of  natural  and  mesmeric  sleep  on  the  human 
system,  it  will  be  seen,  I  think,  that  they  only  differ  in  degree,  and 
in  the  greater  command  we  have  over  the  artificial  than  the 
natural  state  of  sleep ;  and  I  feel  disposed  to  think  that  extreme 
conditions  of  the  nervous  system,  its  exhaustion  or  repletion,  and 
the  irregular  distribution  of  the  nervous  secretions,  produce  the 
same  effects  on  the  bodily  and  mental  organs  in  normal  and 
abnormal  sleep. 

I  shall  attempt  to  exemplify  tliis,  by  instituting  a  comparison 
between  natural  sleep  and  its  diseased  varieties,  and  the  mesmeric 
phenomena ;  from  v/hich  it  will  be  apparent  that  most  of  the  latter 
exist  in  the  routine  of  life,  and  that  the  novelty  consists  in  our 
being  able  to  produce  and  vary  them,  at  will,  by  a  new  direction 
of  the  nervous  energy. 

Com  moil  Sleep. — In  tliis  condition  of  the  system  there  is  an 
absolute  repose  of  body  and  mind ;  at  least,  there  is  no  conscious- 
ness of  movement  in  either,  on  awaking. 

Mesmeric  Sleep  exactly  resembles  common  sleep,  with  added 
restorative  and  curative  power,  of  which  the  following  cases  are 
examples. 

July  8th. — Geereah,  a  Hindoo  girl ;  aged  lo :  is  suffering  from 
suppression  of  urine  for  two  days,  in  consequence  of  violence 
done  to  the  perineum,  by  which  the  recto-vaginal  septum  has 
been  destroyed :  the  bladder  extends  up  to  the  navel,  and  no 
instrument  can  be  passed,  owing  to  the  painful  condition  of  the 
parts.  I  mesmerised  lier  for  half  an  hour,  after  which  she  slept 
an  hour,  and  on  waking  voided  licr  urine  freely ;  all  disagreeable 
symptoms  immediately  disappeared,  and  she  was  cured  without 
a  dose  of  medicine. 

July  loth. — Oboychurn  Roy,  a  Hindoo  land-ov;ner :  had  his 
left  arm  struck  off,  twelve  days  ago,  in  defending  his  house 
against  a  gang  of  dacoifs.  There  are  two  white  rings  on  his  arm, 
made  by  ligatures  applied  to  staunch  the  blood ;  and  it  is  wonder- 
ful that  mortification  has  not  been  produced.  Several  pieces  of 
bone  required  to  be  removed,  and  this  gave  him  great  pain:  he 
v/as  mesmerised,  locally,  with  great  relief,  and  afterwards  gener- 
ally:  he  dropped  asleep  in  half  an  hour,  and  slept  the  whole  of 
that  night ;  the  only  sleep  he  had  had  since  the  infliction  of  the 
injury. 

2.  Night-marc. — If  the  brain  is  disagreeably  affected  by  in- 
ternal physical  impressions,  such  as  an  unequal  distribution  of 


68  MESMERIC  DAY-MARE. 

blood,  or  nervous  energy,  then  a  confused  train  of  painful  images 
take  possession  of  the  mind,  which  is  filled  with  causeless  fears 
and  shadowy  horrors ;  and  the  sleeper  struggles  helplessly  to 
shake  ofif  the  incubus  that  oppresses  him. 

Mesmeric  day-mare. — This  very  much  resembles  night-mare, 
but  with  a  greater  tendency  to  walk  and  talk,  and  appears  to 
depend  upon  the  irregular  distribution  of  the  nervous  power,  and 
the  consequent  derangement  of  the  respiration  and  circulation. 
This  is  so  alarming  an  effect  of  Mesmerism,  that  I  do  not  envy 
the  amateur  who  may  produce  it. 

July  4th. — Bunnoo,  a  Hindoo  girl ;  aged  15.  She  sprained  her 
ankle,  ten  days  ago,  by  a  fall :  the  foot,  ankle,  and  half  the  leg, 
are  much  swollen,  infiltrated,  and  very  painful.  I  mesmerised 
her  for  an  hour,  but  she  only  slept  for  a  few  minutes,  and  little 
relief  was  given. 

July  5th. — She  was  again  mesmerised  to-day,  and  in  ten 
minutes  she  became  much  agitated ;  her  chest  was  convulsed,  and 
she  showed  all  the  signs  of  a  violent  attack  of  hysteria.  The 
convulsions  were  soothed  in  a  short  time,  by  generalising  the 
mesmeric  influence,  and  then  she  became  delirious,  crying  out, 
that  there  was  a  man  before  her  with  great  eyes,  and  desiring  him 
to  be  taken  away.  Her  eyes  were  wide  open,  but  she  said  I  was 
a  Bengalee ;  thought  she  was  in  her  own  house,  and  did  not  know 
her  own,  or  her  mother's  name,  who  was  standing  by  her.  I 
placed  her  mother  before  her,  whom  she  took  for  a  man,  and 
ordered  away,  covering  him  with  the  choicest  flowers  of  Bengalee 
abuse.  She  was  sitting  up,  and  carefully  protecting  her  leg  all  this 
time,  answering  all  my  questions  about  it  quite  clearly.  As  it 
was  not  in  a  comfortable  position,  I  desired  her  to  place  it  to  her 
liking,  as  she  would  not  allow  it  to  be  touched :  this  she  did,  and 
said  it  was  now  right.  I  then  asked,  if  she  would  go  to  sleep: 
she  answered  "yes ;"  upon  which  I  pointed  my  fingers  at  her  eyes, 
and  she  fell  back  as  if  shot,  and  went  into  the  trance. 

The  leg  could  now  be  freely  pressed  all  over,  without  disturb- 
ing her,  and  I  made  my  assistants  apply  their  hands  to  it,  to  show 
them  that  the  heat  had  also  disappeared ;  the  inflamed  parts  were 
now  cooler  than  our  hands. 

This  was  not  a  case  in  which  the  mesmeric  trance  could  rap- 
idly subdue  inflammation ;  it  was  of  too  long  standing,  and  the 
ligaments  had  been  too  much  injured,  but  local  manipulations 
gave  great  relief,  and  induced  sleep  even. 


MESMERIC  SLEEP-WALKING.  69 

Slccp-zvalking. — Sometimes  from  irritability  of  the  muscular 
system,  there  is  a  craving  for  motion  as  the  natural  source  of 
relief,  and,  volition  sympathising  to  the  required  degree  only,  the 
person  gets  up,  and  walks  till  tired :  having  thus  exhausted  the 
muscular  and  nervous  irritation  by  exercise  in  the  cool  night  air, 
he  returns  to  bed,  sleeps  soundly,  and,  next  day,  has  no  recollec- 
tion of  his  nocturnal  promenade. 

Mesmeric  Sleep-zvalking. — July  i8th. — I  entranced  five  men 
to-day,  in  the  presence  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  and  jMr.  Clint, 
Principal  of  Hooghly  college  :  two  of  them  awoke,  on  being  pulled 
up,  and  set  on  their  feet ;  the  others  slept  standing. 

No.  I  could  not  possibly  open  his  eyes,  though  he  understood 
my  order  to  do  so,  and  tried  with  all  his  might ;  nor  could  he  walk 
when  desired,  but  being  set  in  motion,  he  poked  helplessly  for- 
ward, till  he  came  in  contact  with  the  wall,  against  which  he 
bowed  his  head,  and  then  stood  motionless.  Being  relieved  from 
his  dilemma,  and  set  a-going  again,  he  slouched  about,  a  most 
forlorn-looking  wretch,  till  he  got  embayed  between  a  window 
shutter  and  the  wall,  and  there  he  would  have  remained  till  the 
fit  went  off,  if  I  had  not  taken  pity  on  him. 

No.  2  OU'  being  raised,  and  roused  a  little  by  rubbing,  and 
blov/ing  in'  his  eyes,  half  opened  them,  and  saw  sufficiently  to 
enable  him  to  avoid  obstacles.  Being  ordered  to  walk,  he  stalked 
out  of  the  room  like  a  walking  corpse ;  descended  four  steps,  very 
cautiously,  and  continued  his  course  in  a  straight  line:  when 
ordered  to  stop,  he  did  so,  and  would  never  have  moved  again, 
of  his  own  accord,  till  the  unnatural  state  disappeared. 

No.  3  being  roused,  opened  his  eyes  wider  than  natural,  but 
saw  no  better  than  the  others.  I  think  he  even  saw  less,  as  he 
had  to  be  warned  of  the  steps,  to  prevent  his  falling:  his  pupils 
were  dilated,  and  he  never  winked.  Having  got  upon  the  grass, 
his  actions  portrayed  the  most  helpless  timidity :  he  walked  as  if 
upon  glass,  and  stared  intently  at  every  tuft  of  grass  in  his  way ; 
sometimes  turning  aside  to  avoid  what,  to  his  disordered  senses, 
probably  appeared  to  be  insurmountable  obstacles.  He  turned, 
when  ordered,  and  made  towards  the  hospital  again,  picking  his 
steps  very  cautiously,  and  never  looking  up  till  he  cam.e  to  t.he 
steps  leading  up  to  the  verandah ;  he  then  stopped,  looked  up, 
carefully  studied  the  nature  of  the  impediment,  and,  seeing  the 
mass  of  building  before  him,  gave  up  the  idea  of  ascending  the 
steps  as  hopeless,  and  turned  along  the  road  running  round  the 
hospital,  till  he  came  to  where  we  were  standing.    Here  I  stopped 


70  MESMERIC    SLEEr-WAKING. 

him,  and  very  distinctly  told  him  the  nature  of  the  obstacle ;  four 
steps,  namely,  and  desired  him  to  come  to  me.  This  he  under- 
stood, undertook,  and  accomplished ;  being  assisted  by  my  warn- 
ing him  at  each  of  the  steps,  and  counting  them.  All  the  men, 
as  usual,  were  unconscious  of  having  left  the  spot  where  they 
went  to  sleep. 

Sleep-ivaking. — At  other  times,  one  or  more  senses  remain 
active  after  the  others  have  gone  to  rest ;  the  wants  of  the  waking 
organ  are  transmitted  to  the  sensorium,  and  are  followed  by  an 
efiort  of  the  will  to  gratify  them.  The  sleeper  rises,  and  performs 
the  actions  necessary  to  satisfy  his  desires ;  eye-sight,  to  a  small 
extent,  usually  assists ;  if  not,  hearing  and  touch  come  to  his  aid, 
and  guide  him  with  singular  accuracy  in  known  localities.  I 
may  here  give  an  illustration,  from  my  own  experience,  of  the 
preternatural  acuteness  of  hearing,  developed  to  aid  the  somnam- 
bulist in  getting  out  of  his  troubles.  In  my  youth,  I  was  an 
eager  sportsman,  by  flood  and  field ;  and  one  night,  after  a 
fatiguing  day's  sport,  I  found  myself  in  the  middle  of  the  room, 
and  very  cold,  but  could  not  possibly  contrive  to  get  back  to  bed 
again.  My  last  waking  impression  was  made  by  the  ticking  of 
my  watch  under  the  pillow,  and  this  recollection  came  to  rescue 
me  from  my  difficulties.  After  the  most  mature  reflection,  it 
occurred  to  me,  that  if  I  could.only  detect  my  watch  by  its  ticking, 
I  should  also  find  my  bed.  Acting  upon  this  happy  idea,  I  hunted 
my  watch  by  ear,  till  I  actually tfound  it;  and  got  into  bed  again, 
as  the  reward  of  sound  reasoning  and  perseverance. 

I  may  also  liere  notice  a  similar  instance  which  occurred  to  my 
brother,  a  clergyman  in  Scotland.  I  give  it  in  his  own  words : — 
"Returning  to  London, after  a  tedious  and  dangerous  voyage  from 
the  continent,  I  retired  to  bed  shortly  after  reaching  my  hotel.  I 
had  taken  possession  of  a  spacious  apartment,  in  which  w'cre  two 
beds,  of  which  only  one  was  occupied.  I  soon  fell  asleep,  as  I 
thought,  but  in  a  short  time  left  my  bed,  and  wandered  about  in 
the  greatest  perplexity,  under  the  idea  tliat  I  was  still  on  board 
the  foreign  steamer,  which  I  had  recently  left.  I  went  from  berth 
to  berth,  as  I  conceived,  beseeching  all  and  sundry  to  shov/  me 
my  own  berth.  At  last  I  came  in  contact  with  the  empty  bed,  and 
creeping  over  it,  got  embayed  between  it  and  the  wall.  I  was 
long  of  getting  out  of  this  new  dilemma,  and  resuming  my  sup- 
plications to  the  numerous  sleepers  by  whom  I  fancied  myself 
surrounded.  I  remember  well  one  part  of  the  affair,  which  filled 
me  with  the  greatest  trepidation.    I  came  up  to  a  small  table,  on 


MESMERIC    SLEEP-WAKING.  7' 

which  I  distinctly  heard  a  watch  ticking.     The  idea  came  into 
my  head  that  should  the  owner  awake,  and  find  me  in  such  sus- 
picious proximity  to  his  watch,  he  would  denounce  me  as  a  thief. 
I  spoke  long  and  eloquently,  rebutting  the  base  suspicion,  but  the 
sleeper  remained  unmoved ;  I  paced  about  in  despair.     I  came  to 
the  door,  but  having  locked  it,  it  did  not  yield  to  my  attempt  at 
opening ;  but  on  coming  to  the  window  I  drew  up  the  blind,  and 
was  still  more  bewildered  on  seeing  the  mighty  mass  of  London 
spread  out  before  me.    The  light  of  the  moon,  however,  striking 
on  the  watch,  was  at  last  the  means  of  restoring  me  to  the  full  use 
of  my  senses.    It  suddenly  occurred  to  me  that  the  watch  was  my 
own.    I  instantly  seized  it,  and  forthwith  was  wide  awake.    I  was 
in  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  in  a  cold  sweat.     A  considerable 
time  must  have  elapsed,  during  the  occurrences  above  described, 
and  the  curious  thing  is,  that  my  eyes  were  wide  open  the  whole 
time.    I  spoke  only  French,  and  that  with  the  greatest  volubility." 
Mesmeric  Slecp-n^aking.— The  following  is  a  beautiful  exam- 
ple of  the  same  condition  of  mind,  produced  by  art. 

Mrs. ,  an  English  lady,  wished  to  be  entranced,  to  have 

a  tooth  taken  out  by  the  dentist,  who  was  shortly  expected  to 
arrive.  I  told  her  husband,  that  my  labour  would  be  in  vain,  if 
she  thought  advantage  was  going  to  be  taken  of  her  sleep ;  fear 
and  anxiety  being  quite  destructive  to  the  production  of  coma ; 
and  suggested  that  when  the  dentist  arrived,  I  should  then  pro- 
pose to  make  a  preliminary  experiment,  telling  her,  that  if  it 
succeeded  she  could  then  suit  her  convenience,  and  be  entranced 
at  any  time,  to  have  the  tooth  taken  out. 

The  dentist  came,  and  his  arrival  being  carefully  concealed 
from  the  ladv,  I  proposed  to  test  her  powers  of  submission.  ^  At 
the  end  of  half  an  hour,  her  arms  appearing  cataleptic,  I  desired 
her  husband  to  order  the  carriage,  and  go  for  the  dentist.  In  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  they  arrived,  and  I  bent  back  the  lady's  head, 
and  began  to  open  her  mouth  without  any  attempt  at  resistance ; 
but,  on  the  window  being  thrown  open  to  give  the  dentist  light, 
she'  awoke  with  a  sudden  start,  and  said  the  dentist  was  present. 
She  thus  described  her  feelings:  she  very  soon  became  uncon- 
scious, after  feeling  a  general  sense  of  warmth  and  oppression 
on  the  chest;  she  felt  me  raise  her  arms,  and  leave  them  in  the 
air  without  the  power  to  move  them,  but  did  not  hear  me  desire 
her  husband  to  get  the  carriage  ready.  She  heard  the  carriage 
wheels,  however,  and  then  it  flashed  across  her  brain  that  her 
husband  had  gone  to  bring  the  dentist,  (although  she  firmly  be- 


72  MESMERIC  DREAMING. 

lieved  him  to  be  in  Calcutta,)  and  this  conviction,  from  that 
minute,  took  complete  possession  of  her  mind.  She  greatly 
wished  to  call  back  her  husband,  or  to  get  up  and  run,  but  she 
could  not  move  tongue  or  foot,  and  showed  all  the  time  the  most 
perfect  repose  of  body  and  feature.  She  heard  the  carriage 
return,  and  knew  it  brought  the  dreaded  dentist ;  was  sure  it  was 
he  who  was  speaking  to  her  husband,  and  yet  remained  fixed  to 
her  seat,  like  a  statue.  In  this  instance,  the  sense  of  hearing  was 
the  only  means  of  communication  with  the  outward  world,  but 
it  excited  a  former  train  of  ideas ;  and  how  accurately  did  fear 
and  causality  come  to  a  right  conclusion,  from  the  ear  having 
transmitted  a  suspicious  sound ! 

This  case  opened  out  to  me  the  nature  of  Somnambulism,  and 
taught  me  how  to  make  somnambulists. 

Dreaming  of  the  Organs  of  Sentiment  and  Intellect. — Perhaps 
no  demand  is  made  on  the  organs  of  sense ;  but  the  waking  parts 
of  the  brain  are  those  connected  with  the  passions,  feelings,  hopes, 
and  fears  of  the  individual.  The  imagination  becomes  inflamed 
by  sympathy  with  the  excited  organ,  and  the  most  vivid  sensa- 
tions of  pain  or  pleasure,  ecstacy  and  agony,  are  excited,  accord- 
ing to  the  organ  stimulated,  and  the  control,  more  or  less,  of  the 
reflecting  power.  The  lover,  the  miser,  the  philanthropist,  and 
the  murderer;  the  man  who  hopes  for  coming  good  fortune,  and 
he  who  lives  in  constant  dread  of  coming  evil;  all  enjoy,  or 
torment,  themselves  to  a  height  of  pleasure,  or  horror,  that  cannot 
be  felt  when  awake.  If  the  reflecting  organs  are  chiefly  called 
into  play,  then  the  man  of  business  does  a  stroke  in  trade,  or 
conceives  a  capital  speculation  that  might  be  of  use  to  him,  if  he 
could  recollect  it  when  awake :  the  student  easily  conquers  his 
difficulties ;  the  mathematician  solves  the  problem,  and  the  his- 
torian removes  a  doubt ;  the  poet's  thoughts  and  lines  no  longer 
leave  his  brain  like  bird-lime,  but  he  pours  forth  his  soul  "in 
thoughts  that  breathe,  and  words  that  burn."  All  good  dreamers, 
in  fact,  confess  that  they  think,  say,  and  do  better  things  when 
asleep  than  when  awake.  Or,  let  us  suppose  that  the  reflecting 
organs  have  been  intensely  engaged  during  the  day,  in  consider- 
ing our  proper  course  of  action  in  certain  circumstances,  and  the 
probable  consequences,  or  that  a  craving  to  penetrate  the  future 
has  been  the  haunting  idea ;  then  the  judgment  is  undisturbed  by 
external  impressions,  and  undistracted  by  passion,  self-interest, 
and  routine  habits  of  thought,  and  supplied  by  memory  only  with 
the  past  experience  and  knowledge  that  bear  upon  the  question ; 


MESMERIC  DREAMING.  73 

under  these  circumstances  it  is  imaginable  that  the  mind  may 
jump  to  just  conclusions,  and  receive  a  clear  and  happy  glimpse 
into  futurity.  These  impressions,  when  rcmemljcred  on  waking, 
and  verified  by  subsequent  events,  are  naturally  converted  into 
inspired  dreams,  and  supernatural  warnings,  merely  by  the  train 
of  reasoning  having  been  lost.  The  persons,  in  reality,  have 
reasoned  correctly,  but  by  an  unusual  mode,  whose  processes 
have  penetrated  the  future,  only  by  comparing  it  with  the  past. 
In  this  way 

"Old  experience  maj'  attain 

To  somc'hing  like  prophetic  strain." 

And  such  dreams  being  remembered,  and  the  reasoning  analysed, 
may  be  of  real  use  to  us,  in  shaping  the  course  of  our  present  and 
future  conduct,  because  our  sleeping  conclusions  have  been  come 
to  from  just  premises,  and  the  natural  process  of  connecting 
cause  and  effect:  whether  this  is  done  sleeping  or  waking,  is  of 
little  consequence,  the  results  being  equally  correct. 

If  the  state  of  one's  health  has  intensely  occupied  the  thoughts, 
and  the  hope  of  being  cured  of  some  distressing  complaint  is  the 
leading  idea ;  then  the  man  of  medical  and  p|iysical  knowledge 
may  possibly  hit  on  the  precise  nature  of  his  disease  in  dreaming, 
and  prescribe  for  its  cure  in  sleep  better  than  he  could  have  done 
by  waking  reflection ;  and,  perhaps,  the  animal  instinct  of  self- 
preservation  may  be  concentrated  on  the  case,  and  suggest  a 
course  of  proceeding,  the  rationale  of  which  we  do  not  under- 
stand, but  which  yet  may  benefit  the  patient  if  acted  upon ;  just 
as  morbid  longings,  as  we  call  them,  (though  frequently  they  are 
promptings  of  nature,  and  ought  never  to  be  despised  by  the 
physician,)  often  do  the  system  good,  when  yielded  to  and 
gratified.  This  is  called  dreaming  of  what  will  do  one  good. 
VL  Mesmeric  Dreaming  of  Different  Organs. — As  in  natural 
sleep  the  organs  are  often  preternaturally  excited,  and  their 
powers  singularly  increased,  by  the  concentration  of  the  nervous 
energy  upon  them ;  so,  in  the  mesmeric  sleep,  this  may  be  effected, 
and  of  course  to  a  greater  and  more  wonderful  extent,  by  the 
person  being  under  the  control  of  a  reflecting  and  directing  agent, 
instead  of  being  left  to  the  fitful  lights  of  his  own  imagination, 
and  the  short  unsustained  flights  of  his  intellect,  as  in  common 
dreaming.  This  power  of  acting  on  separate  portions  of  the 
brain,  and  thereby  inducing  such  trains  of  thought  as  we  may  be 
pleased  to  excite,  will  perhaps  be  found  of  practical  utility  in  the 
treatment  of  mental  diseases;  the  diseased  haunting  idea  might 


74  MESMERIC  DREAMING, 

be  banished,  and  a  more  healthy  tone  of  feehng  and  reasoning 
substituted  and  sustained,  till  a  new  and  better  habit  of  mind 
was  produced.  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  mental  organs 
can  be  isolated  and  exalted  by  the  mesmeric  influence  under  the 
direction  of  a  skilful  leader  and  suggester,  and  can  readily  be- 
lieve that  the  mind,  by  this  artificial  stimulus,  may  be  excited 
into  more  vigorous  activity  than  when  acted  upon  by  the  usual 
conditions  of  life.  If  persons  may  derive  benefit  from  night 
thoughts  in  dreams,  their  sleep-waking  day  thoughts  should  be 
more  valuable ;  but  the  one  has  no  more  pretensions  to  super- 
natural power  than  the  other.  The  night-dream  is  woven  out  of 
past  impressions  lighted  up  by  a  flickering  imagination  and  a 
wavering  judgment;  and  the  somnambulist  has  only  the  advan- 
tage of  having  his  thoughts  sustained  and  concentrated  by  his 
mental  director.  Nor,  considering  the  excessive  nervous  delicacy 
developed  in  the  course  of  mesmeric  treatment,  and  the  power 
of  fixing  the  whole  attention  upon  their  bodily  sensations,  do  I 
think  it  impossible  that  somnambulists  may  acquire  an  instinctive 
perception  of  the  condition  of  their  organs,  and  occasionally  be 
able  to  prescribe  something  for  their  relief;  just  as  persons  dream, 
under  nearly  an  analogous  state,  of  what  will  do  them  good,  and 
which  sometimes  really  does  so.  My  psychological  experiments 
have  been  very  limited,  partly  because  I  feared  to  bewilder 
myself  at  the  outset,  and  also  from  want  of  proper  subjects  to  try 
them  on.  The  mental  range  of  my  patients  is  so  circumscribed, 
that  the  topics  of  food,  drink,  and  clothing,  almost  exhaust  it, 
and  with  most  of  them  I  have  no  common  language.  But  I  have 
done  enough  to  show  me  how  the  higher  grades  of  somnambulism 
may  be  reached ;  and  with  more  highly  organised  and  intellectual 
natures,  I  should  have  good  hopes  of  doing  so. 

If  properly  set  about,  somnambulism  may  be  produced  at  a 
very  early  stage  of  the  mesmeric  phasis,  or  can  be  developed  as 
the  first  step  in  the  return  to  life  from  the  mesmeric  trance ;  but 
in  the  latter  case,  the  sleeper  is  apt  to  wake  up,  at  once,  to  perfect 
consciousness.  To  make  the  simple  somnambulist,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  operate  on  the  person  till  his  arms  become  cataleptic ; 
all  expression  then  vanishes,  and  even  when  the  person  answers 
on  subjects  of  deep  interest  to  himself,  no  sign  of  mental  emotion 
ever  disturbs  his  countenance.  This  statue-like  serenity  of  fea- 
tures may  be  singularly  broken  by  concentrating  his  attention, 
and  desiring  him  to  do  whatever  you  do :  he  then  becomes  an 
imitative  automaton,  mimicking  most  servilely,  and  exactly,  the 


HOW    TO    MAKE    SOMNAMRULISTS.  75 

actions  and  words  of  the  mesmerist,  or  any  one  substituted  for 
him,  and  who  attracts  his  attention.  Even  at  this  stage,  I  have 
not  estahHshcd  any  "rapport"  between  the  parties,  but  have  only 
desired  the  person  who  took  my  place  to  call  upon  the  somnam- 
bulist repeatedly  by  name,  till  he  answered,  and  then  to  give  clear 
and  short  orders,  which  were  obeyed  as  readily  as  my  own. 
There  is  much  misapprehension  prevalent,  I  am  convinced,  about 
the  necessity  of  "rapport"  in  the  physical  and  lower  mental  phe- 
nomena of  Mesmerism :  most  of  my  experiments  have  been  made 
on  patients  first  entranced  by  my  assistants,  and  my  subsequent 
control  over  their  movements  was  often  acquired  without  touch- 
ing them;  it  being  only  necessary  for  me  to  attract  their  exclusive 
attention. 

July  29th. — I  made  a  man  senseless  and  cataleptic,  at  a  great 
distance,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  gentlemen,  who 
had  come  from  Calcutta  and  elsewhere* ;  among  them  were  six 
doctors,  in  whose  hands,  and  in  those  of  the  rest  of  the  company, 
he  was  left  as  long  as  they  pleased,  without  my  approaching 
till  I  was  requested  to  awake  him,  after  they  had  all  tried  in  vain. 
This  I  did,  but  only  to  the  extent  of  enabling  him  to  walk  and 
follow  me.  I  then  said,  that  I  would  try  to  clear  up  his  percep- 
tive organs  sufficiently  to  permit  him  to  understand  my  wishes, 
with  which  he  would' implicitly  comply:  I  did  not  wish  to  leave 
him  the  power  of  speech  even,  at  this  stage.  Having  attracted 
his  ear,  I  ordered  him  to  do  what  I  did,  and  this  he  very  faith- 
fully performed  by  throwing  himself,  on  the  instant,  into  every 
attitude  I  assumed ;  but  I  required  to  be  careful,  for  if  I  threw 
him  much  out  of  balance,  he  was  in  danger  of  plunging  head 
foremost  against  the  floor.     Those  who  did  not  see  him,  may 

*I  take  the  liberty  to  give  the  names  of  such  gentlemen  as  I  knew,  or 
who  were  introduced  to  me;  not,  however,  as  being  all  vouchers  for  the 
truth  of  Mesmerism,  for  I  did  not  know  many  of  them,  and  know  not  the 
effect  produced  on  their  minds  by  what  they  saw.  There  were  upwards  of 
60  persons  present,  and  some  will  be  found,  I  hope,  to  put  me  right,  if  I 
misrepresent,  or  incorrectly  report,  what  every  one  saw.  Messrs.  Barlow, 
and  Tucker,  Judges  of  the  Sudder  Court;  Mr.  Elliot,  Law  Commissioner; 
Mr.  Hardinge,  Capt.  Hardinge,  Mr.  Melville,  Mr.  Larpent.  Mr.  Bayley, 
Mr.  Wanchope,  Mr.  Jackson,  Mr.  Graves,  Mr.  Clermont,  Mr.  Betts,  the 
Rev.  H.  Fisher,  the  Rev.  F.  Fisher,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bradbury,  Mr.  Hunter, 
Mr.  Bennett,  Major  Wood,  Major  Anderson,  Major  Riddcll,  Capt.  Duncan, 
Capt.  Cantley,  Dr.  McPherson,  Dr.  Smith,  Dr.  Burt,  Dr.  Walker,  Dr. 
Elton,  Dr.  Ross. 


'j()  CASE    OF    MESMERIC    SOMNAMBULISM. 

imagine  how  little  the  poor  fellow  knew  what  he  was  about,  when 
they  were  told,  that  he  took  the  "longitude"  of  the  judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court  with  the  cool  impudence  and  precision  of  a  cab- 
man, and  the  gravity  of  an  astronomer.  I  then  proceeded  to  free 
his  voice,  but  only  to  the  extent  of  making  him  my  echo :  he  was 
told  to  repeat  whatever  I  said,  and  he  showed  his  intelligence  by 
repeating  the  order.  He  then  gave  us  "Ye  Mariners  of  England," 
and  if  the  pronunciation  was  not  very  perfect,  he  seemed  to  me 
to  reverberate  exactly  my  tones,  and  my  gesticulations  were  also 
faithfully  copied.  We  passed  suddenly  from  "grave  to  gay,"  and 
he  did  such  justice  to  "Hey  diddle  diddle,"  that  I  lost  my  gravity 
and  burst  into  a  laugh ;  he  joined  me  in  full  chorus,  and  I  heard 
it  remarked  "he  can't  help  laughing  himself;"  and  some  were 
now  quite  satisfied  that  he  was  found  out !  upon  this,  I  stopped 
laughing,  and,  on  the  instant,  his  features  relapsed  into  the  most 
awful  repose,  and  I  pointed  out  that  it  was  no  joke  to  him,  but 
purely  imitative  laughter,  and  this,  I  should  think,  became  evi- 
dent to  all.  He  also  sang  "God  save  the  Queen,"  as  well,  or 
rather  as  badly  as  I,  for  he  is  capable  of  much  better  things,  under 
a  more  skilful  music  master.  I  now  awoke  him  up  a  little  more, 
and  made  him  capable  of  answering  questions :  he  was  asked  if 
he  could  fence ;  he  said  that  he  could ;  and  I  bid  him  show  me. 
He  began  to  cut  the  preliminary  capers  of  the  native  fencers,  but, 
in  the  act  of  stooping,  a  fit  of  rigidity  shot  through  him,  and  he 
would  have  fallen  with  dangerous  violence  against  the  floor,  if 
his  fall  had  not  been  fortunately  broken.  I  am  always  alarmed, 
and  on  the  look  out,  when  this  man  is  experimented  on,  from 
this  tendency  to  instantaneous  rigidity  of  the  body.  A  profound 
trance,  from  which  it  is  very  difficult  to  awake  him,  succeeds  such 
exertions,  and  usually  lasts  for  four  or  five  hours.  I  showed 
another  step  in  the  mental  phenomena,  on  other  subjects  ;  enabling 
them  to  answer  simple  questions  correctly,  and  extinguishing  and 
releasing  the  power  at  pleasure.  All  reflection  being  dormant, 
they  feel  a  natural  impulse  to  give  a  direct  answer  to  a  direct 
question,  and  in  this  way  tell  me  frankly  whatever  I  choose  to  ask. 
We  are  assured  that  common  sleepers  can  also  be  played  upon  in 
the  same  way  by  patient  and  skilful  persons,  and  that  this  is  well 
known  to  the  secret  police  of  France. 

Catalepsy. — The  following  is  a  medical  description  of  natural 
catalepsy,  from  the  Cyclopaedia  of  Practical  Medicine.  "The 
attack  is  generally  instantaneous,  the  sudden  rigidity  of  the  trunk 
and  limbs,  the  suspension  of  the  senses,  and  temporary  interrup- 


NATURAL  CATALEPSY.  TJ 

tion  of  the  exercise  of  the  intellectual  faculties,  having  been 
preceded  by  no  premonitory  stage.  The  patient  retains  the  pos- 
ture of  body  and  the  expression  of  countenance  which  he  chanced 
to  have  at  the  moment  of  seizure ;  and  by  this  combination  of  fixed 
attitude  and  unvarying  expression,  presents  the  air  of  a  statue 
rather  than  of  an  animated  being.  The  eyes  continue  either 
fixedly,  or  shut,  as  they  happened  to  be  at  the  commencement, 
whilst  the  pupil,  though  usually  dilated,  contracts  on  the  approach 
of  a  strong  light.  The  balance  between  the  flexor  and  extensor 
muscles  is  so  perfect,  that  any  new  position  given  to  the  head, 
trunk,  or  extremities,  by  an  external  force,  is  easily  received,  and 
steadily  maintained.  This  passive  energy  of  the  muscular  system, 
permitting  the  body  to  be  moulded  into  almost  as  great  a  variety 
of  attitudes  as  if  it  were  a  figure  of  wax  or  lead,  is  the  distinguish- 
ing characteristic  of  the  disease." 

Mesmeric  Catalepsy. — Sept.  24th. — Mr.  Blyth,  curator  of 
the  Asiatic  Society's  Museum,  paid  me  a  visit  yesterday,  and  saw 
various  mesmeric  operations  in  my  hospitals.  He  begged 
so  earnestly  to  be  allowed  to  see  a  somnambulist  that  I 
was  over-persuaded  to  gratify  him,  as  I  wished  to  confine  myself 
to  the  purely  medical  relations  of  Mesmerism.  I  told  him,  that 
when  the  mesmeric  influence,  or  rather  disease,  had  been  deeply 
felt  by  the  constitution,  any  body  could  re-develop  it  very  easily, 
and  that  if  he  would  follow  my  directions,  he  might  mesmerise  a 
man  for  himself,  and  convert  him  into  a  somnambulist  after- 
wards. 

He  accordingly  rendered  a  man  senseless,  standing  erect,  in 
a  few  minutes,  and  failing  to  awake  him,  requested  me  to  do  so, 
which  was  instantaneously  done.  But,  as  often  happens,  when 
the  system  is  deeply  affected,  he  fell  back  into  the  trance,  and 
Mr.  B,  begged  to  see  the  imitative  stage  of  somnambulism.  I 
said,  he  could  do  this  also  himself,  by  concentrating  the  patient's 
attention.  Mr.  B.  was  sitting  on  a  table  a  few  yards  in  front  of 
the  man,  and  made  all  kinds  of  noises,  which  he  echoed  back. 
Wishing  to  examine  him  more  closely,  Mr.  B.  jumped  off  the 
table,  and  came  running  forward  with  his  body  bent,  and  singing. 
The  man  did  exactly  the  same,  but  a  sudden  fit  of  rigidity  passed 
through  him,  and  he  plunged  head  foremost  against  the  floor,  to 
Mr.  B.'s  great  distress.  I  had  him  placed  on  a  comfortable  bed 
to  sleep  off  the  effects,  and  we  left  him  at  i  o'clock,  p.  m. 

I  was  painfully  startled  to  find  the  man  stiff  as  a  log  to-day, 


78  CASE   OF   ^.lESMERIC    CATALEPSY. 

at  II  o'clock,  and  that  he  had  shown  no  sign  of  Hfe  since  we  left 
him. 

This  would  have  not  alarmed  me  without  the  accident,  but  I 
feared  the  head  might  have  been  injured  by  his  fall,  and  set  about 
restoring  him  to  his  senses  by  the  usual  mesmeric  processes,  but 
all  in  vain.  I  then  had  recourse  to  volatile  stimulants  to  the  nose 
(I  could  not  induce  any  attempt  to  swallow,)  and  effusion  of  cold 
water  on  the  body,  and  to  water  poured  from  a  height  into  his 
open  eyes  ;  but  to  no  purpose.  I  returned  in  an  hour,  and  renewed 
my  efforts ;  no  fluid  could  be  got  to  pass  down  his  throat,  it  ran 
out  of  his  mouth  as  from  a  dead  man's ;  while  looking  on  atten- 
tively, I  saw  an  instinctive  effort  made  to  clear  the  wind-pipe  of 
mucus  that  obstructed  it,  and  then  an  attempt  to  swallow ;  I  took 
advantage  of  this,  and  poured  some  water  down  his  throat ;  some, 
luckily  for  my  purpose,  passed  into  his  wind-pipe,  and  brought  on 
a  violent  fit  of  spasmodic  coughing.  I  continued  to  rouse  the 
system  at  the  same  time,  by  every  possible  means,  and  succeeded 
in  awaking  him.  But  from  the  rigidity  of  the  muscles  of  respira- 
tion continuing,  his  efforts  to  get  rid  of  the  water,  and  the  accu- 
mulated mucus  of  twenty-four  hours,  nearly  choked  him.  At 
length,  the  respiratory  muscles  resumed  their  natural  action,  and 
enabled  him  to  eject  the  phlegm  from  his  wind-pipe. 

After  the  trunk  had  become  pliable,  his  legs  remained  as 
rigid  as  bars  of  iron,  and  could  not  be  bent  for  half  an  hour  after- 
wards. 

This  will  not  only  be  a  lesson  to  myself,  but  to  others,  I  hope ; 
and,  in  future,  I  must  resist  all  application  to  do  more  than  is 
necessary  for  the  removal  of  disease,  even  at  the  expense  of 
being  thought  uncourteous  and  disobliging. 

Coma. — '"'Last  stage  of  all  in  this  strange,  eventful  history," 
is  only  separated  from  the  chamber  of  death  by  a  very  fine  parti- 
tion. In  this,  mind  and  body  are  equally  torpid,  and  insensible 
to  all  external  impressions.  It  is  seen  in  persons  exhausted  by 
long  watching  and  fatigue,  exposure  to  cold,  or  intense  suffering 
of  body  and  mind;  and  in  this  condition  of  the  nervous  system 
surgical  operations  might  often  be  performed  without  causing 
pain.  Irregularity  in  the  vital  organs,  anguish  and  misery  of  the 
countenance,  characterise  natural  coma,  and  indicate  that  the  icy 
hand  of  death  is  arresting  the  currents  of  life,  and,  in  general, 
the  last  trump  alone  can  rouse  the  sleeper  from  this  torpor  of 
exhaustion. 


CASE   OF    MESMERIC    COMA.  79 

Mesmeric  Coma. — In  this,  the  great  organic  functions  are 
usually  undisturbed ;  the  countenance  is  calm  and  full,  and  the 
complexion  that  of  health.  The  person  is  generally  easily  aroused, 
and  how  different  is  his  waking !  In  an  instant,  often,  he  returns 
to  full  life  and  consciousness,  without  knowing  that  he  has  been 
asleep,  and  his  feelings  are  often  those  of  pleasure  and  relief;  if 
he  has  lain  down  in  pain,  he  often  awakes  free  from  it,  and  reno- 
vated in  strength  and  spirits.  In  the  subsequent  part  of  this  work, 
abundant  instances  will  be  given  of  this,  and  I  will  only  here  intro- 
duce one. 

May  22d. — I  went  to-day  to  see  my  patient  Mr.  Clermont, 
head  master  of  Hooghly  College ;  but  found  that  he  had  gone  out 
to  his  duty.  Mrs.  Clermont  mentioned,  that  she  was  suffering 
from  one  of  her  nervous  headaches,  which  commence  v/ith  a 
pain  in  the  back  of  the  neck,  that  spreads  over  the  scalp,  and 
around  the  eye-brows ;  she  had  been  weakly  and  nervous  of  late. 
She  knew  nothing  about  Mesmerism,  and  I  had  never  mentioned 
it  to  her,  but  now  proposed  to  try  the  effect  of  it  on  her  complaint. 
No  objection  being  made,  I  requested  her  to  turn  her  back  to  me, 
and  sit  erect  in  her  chair,  and  describe  anything  uncommon  she 
might  feel  during  the  process. 

After  a  few  minutes,  she  said  that  she  felt  a  warmth  in  the 
neck,  and  on  extending  my  manipulations,  it  advanced  to  the 
scalp  and  eyes.  In  about  eight  minutes,  she  said  that  the  pain 
was  much  less,  and  that  she  felt  very  drowsy:  upon  which,  I 
asked,  "shall  I  put  you  to  sleep?"  She  only  smiled  in  reply, 
raised  her  right  arm,  put  her  hand  to  the  side  of  her  head,  and 
went  to  sleep.  At  this  moment  a  lady  (Mr.  Clermont's  sister,) 
entered  the  room,  and  I  begged  her  to  remain  by  Mrs.  Clermont 
till  I  returned  with  her  husband.  Having  found  him,  I  asked 
pardon  for  taking  the  liberty  of  mesmerising  his  wife  without  his 
consent,  and  requested  him  to  return  to  see  her  awake.  We 
found  her  as  I  had  left  her,  with  some  members  of  the  family 
looking  on.  I  extended  her  arm  at  a  right  angle  to  her  body,  in 
which  position,  or  any  other,  it  remained  fixed  till  moved  again, 
and  her  sister-in-law  pricked  her  hand  unheeded.  As  I  saw  the 
party  becoming  uneasy,  I  awoke  her,  but  with  considerable 
difficulty :  she  felt  very  much  ashamed  at  having  been  found 
asleep  by  me,  as  she  supposed,  and  it  was  only  after  long  ques- 
tioning and  reflection  that  she  recalled  the  circumstances  attend- 
ing her  sleep.  The  headache  was  quite  gone,  and  she  felt,  and 
looked,  greatly  refreshed. 


8o  NATURAL    Cf.AIRVOYANCE. 

Letter  from  Mr.  Clermont. 

"My  Dear  Sir, 

"I  have  read  your  report  to  the  parties  who  were  in  the 
next  room  at  the  time  you  mesmerised  Mrs.  Clermont.  They 
are  perfectly  satisfied  as  to  its  correctness,  and  have  not  the 
slightest  objection  to  your  making  use  of  their  names,  if  necessar}'. 
It  would  be  superfluous  to  detail  here  the  circumstances  which 
came  under  my  observation  on  my  return  from  Judge  Russell's, 
as  they  have  already  been  described  by  you.  But,  in  short,  I  fully 
corroborate  your  account  of  the  case,  and  even  bear  the  most 
positive  testimony  to  all  that  transpired  in  my  presence.  You 
will  be  glad  to  learn,  that  Mrs.  Clermont  has  been  doing  well 
ever  since.  I  am.  Yours  faithfully, 

"T.  M.  Clermont. 

"Chiiisnrah,  May  2^fh,  1845. 

"P.  S.    I  herein  insert  the  names  of  the  parties  present : — 
"Miss  Clermont.  , 

"Mr.  Manly. 

''Mr'  Scot?'^   1  S*"^^"*^  of  th^  Medical  College." 

Nov.  23. — Mrs.  Clermont  has  not  suffered  any  return  of  the 
headache,  and  no  longer  feels  the  distressing  languor  and  oppres- 
sion she  complained  of  till  she  was  mesmerised. 

Natural  Clairvoyance. — This  is  recorded  to  have  been  seen  in 
cases  of  natural  catalepsy,  and  a  French  physician,  M.  Petetin, 
has  related  several  instances  of  it,  which  are  as  well  attested 
as  most  facts  in  the  history  of  medicine.  M.  Petetin  had  opposed 
Mesmerism,  when  alive,  and  the  cases  of  catalepsy,  in  which  he 
had  observed  a  transference  of  the  senses,  were  found  among  his 
posthumous  papers,  and  published  after  his  death.  In  his  first 
case,  the  discovery  was  purely  accidental :  a  cataleptic  patient 
was  seized  with  an  uncontrollable  impulse  to  sing,  which  nothing 
could  stop,  as  she  was  completely  deaf  and  insensible  to  external 
impressions  on  the  organs  of  sense. 

M.  Petetin  fell  by  accident  across  the  bed,  and  when  his  mouth 
was  near  the  patient's  stomach,  exclaimed  in  despair,  "Good  God! 
what  a  pity  that  this  woman  can't  be  stopped  singing!"  This 
exclamation  the  woman  heard,  and  answered,  to  his  great  amaze- 
ment, and  they  continued  to  converse  through  the  pit  of  her 
stomach,  and  the  functions  of  other  senses  were  also  performed 
by  remote  parts  of  the  body.    All  this  is  supported  by  uncxcep- 


CASE  OF  NATURAL  CLAIRVOYANCE.  8l 

tionable  authority;  such  as  one  cannot  reject,  and  hope  to  be 
himself  believecl. 

It  has  also  been  seen  and  described  by  unprofessional  persons 
of  intelligence  and  veracity;  of  which  the  following  is  a  curious 
example :  it  is  a  communication  from  a  clergyman  to  Sir  George 
McKenzie,  President  of  the  Edinburgh  Phrenological  Society, 
and  was  written  without  any  reference  to  Mesmerism,  and  before 
it  had  attracted  any  attention  in  England : — 

"Dear  Sir, 

"It  is  perfectly  true,  that  our  poor  friend,  who  has  now  been 
some  months  with  us,  presents  one  of  those  singular  and  almost 
incredible  cases  of  hysterical  or  nervous  affection,  which  are  at 
distant  intervals  witnessed  under  the  dispensation  of  the 
Almighty.  The  overthrow  of  the  regular  functions  of  the  nervous 
system  was  occasioned  by  the  almost  sudden  death  of  her  father 
(to  whom  she  was  fondly  attached,)  who  was  seized  with  illness, 
during  her  absence  from  him,  and  died  in  a  few  hours  after  she 
returned  to  her  home.  I  cannot  enter  into  any  longer  details  of 
the  case,  which  has  been  attended  with  all  those  varieties,  which 
have  long  characterised  the  complaint  among  medical  men  as  the 
Protean  disorder.  The  extraordinary  powers  communicated  to 
the  other  senses  by  the  temporary  suspension  of  one  or  two  of 
them,  are  beyond  credibility  to  all  those  who  do  not  witness  it: 
and  I  really  seldom  enter  into  any  of  the  details,  because  it  would 
be  but  reasonable,  that  those  v/ho  have  not  seen  should  doubt  the 
reality  of  them. 

"All  colours  she  can  distinguish  with  the  greatest  correctness 
by  night  or  by  day,  whether  presented  to  her  on  cloth,  silk,  muslin, 
wax,  or  even  glass ;  and  this  I  rhay  safely  say,  as  easily  on  any  part 
of  the  body  as  with  the  hands,  although,  of  course,  the  ordinary 
routine  of  such  an  exhibition  of  power  takes  place  with  the 
hands, — the  other  being  that  of  mere  curiosity.  Her  delicacy  of 
mind,  and  high  tone  of  religious  feeling,  are  such,  that  she  has 
the  greatest  objection  to  make  that  which  she  regards  in  the 
light  of  a  heavy  affliction  from  God,  a  matter  of  show  or  curiosity 
to  others,  although  to  ourselves,  of  course,  all  these  unusual 
extravagances  of  nervous  sensibility  are  manifest,  for  at  least 
twelve  out  of  every  twenty-four  hours.  She  can  not  only  read 
with  the  greatest  rapidity  any  writing  that  is  legible  to  us,  music, 
&c.,  with  the  mere  passing  of  her  fingers  over  it,  whether  in  a  dark 
or  light  room,  (for  her  sight  is  for  the  most  part  suspended, 
when  under  the  influence  of  the  attack,  or  paroxysm,  although 


82  CASE  OF  NATURAL  CLAIRVOYANCE. 

she  is  perfectly  sensible, — nay,  more  acute  and  clever  than  in  her 
natural  state;)  but  within  this  month  past  she  has  been  able  to 
collect  the  contents  of  any  printing  or  MS.,  by  merely  laying  her 
hand  on  the  page,  without  tracing  the  lines  or  letters ;  and  I  saw 
her,  last  night  only,  declare  the  contents  of  a  note  just  brought 
into  the  room,  in  this  way,  (when  I  could  not  decipher  it  myself, 
without  a  candle)  and  with  a  rapidity  with  w^hich  I  could  not  have 
read  it  by  daylight.  I  have  seen  her  develop  hand-writing  by 
the  application  of  a  note  to  the  back  of  her  hand,  neck,  or  foot ; 
and  she  can  do  it  at  any  time.  There  is  nothing  unnatural  in 
this,  for,  of  course,  the  nervous  susceptibility  extends  all  over 
the  surface  of  the  body,  but  use  and  habit  cause  us  to  limit  its 
power  more  to  the  fingers.  Many,  even  medical  men,  take  upon 
themselves  to  declare,  that  we  are  all,  her  medical  attendants  as 
well,  under  a  mere  delusion.  We  ask  none  to  believe  anything, 
if  they  prefer  not  to  do  so,  and  only  reply, — The  case  is  equally 
marvellous  either  way ;  either  that  this  poor  patient  should  be 
thus  afflicted,  or  that  eighteen  or  nineteen  persons  of  my  family 
and  friends,  in  the  daily  habit  of  seeing  her,  should  fancy  she  is, 
for  every  twelve  hours  out  of  the  twenty-four,  doing  at  intervals 
that  which  she  is  not  doing.  There  are  many  exhibitions  of 
extravagant  powers  which  she  possesses,  that  we  talk  of  to  no 
one ;  for  finding  it  difficult  to  acquire  credit  for  lesser  things,  we 
do  not  venture  on  the  greater.  Her  power  ceases  the  moment  the 
attack  passes  ofif.  A  considerable  swelling  has  at  times  been 
visible  at  the  back  of  the  head,  which  has  yielded  to  the  treat- 
ment. It  is  certainly  a  case  which  would  be  an  instructive  one, 
in  the  consideration  of  the  physiolog}'  of  the  human  frame:  but 
she,  poor  thing!  is  most  averse  to  experiments  being  purposely 
made  on  her;  but  in  her  every  day  life  among  us,  we  have  no 
lack  of  proof  for  all  we  believe  and  know. 

"Between  the  attacks,  she  is  as  perfectly  in  a  natural  state 
as  ever  she  was  in  her  life.  There  is  but  one  paradox  in  her  state ; 
and  that  is,  that  she  can,  at  such  times,  hear  some  sounds,  and 
not  others,  though  very  much  louder,  and  see  some  things,  and 
not  others,  though  placed  before  her.  She  could  hear  a  tune 
whistled,  when  she  could  not  hear  a  gun  fired  close  to  her.  It 
is  certainly  the  absorption  or  absence  of  mind  that  occasions  this ; 
absent  to  some  things,  though  present  to  others,  like  any  absent 
man  ;  and  thus  Dr.  Y.  accounts  for  it.  In  making  this  communica- 
tion to  you,  in  part  to  vindicate  the  testimony  of  my  friend.  Mr. 
M.,  I  have  really  exceeded  my  usual  custom  and  resolution ;  for 


MESMERIC   CLAIRVOYANCE.  83 

I  do  not  think  it  fair  to  the  poor  sufferer  herself,  to  make  her  too 
much  the  talk  of  others.  Very  few  helieve  what  we  tell  them, 
and  therefore  we  are  in  no  degree  anxious  to  open  our  lips  on 
the  subject.  All  I  know  is,  that  I  should  not  have  believed  it 
myself,  had  I  been  only  told  it.  I  must  beg,  that  you  will  not 
make  any  undue  use  of  this  communication,  by  handing  my  letter 
about  to  any  one.  The  friend  for  whom  you  ask  the  information 
is  perfectly  welcome  to  read  it,  or  I  should  not  have  written  it. 
If  the  case  were  my  own,  the  world  should  be  welcome  to  it; 
but  a  young  female  of  such  sensibility  might  be  much  embarrassed 
by  finding  the  world  at  large  in  possession  of  all  particulars  on 
her  recovery,  should  God  so  please  to  permit. 

"I  am,  &c.  &c. 


Mesmeric  Clairvoyance. — If  the  above  are  facts  (and  it  is  no 
sign  of  credulity  to  believe  them  till  they  are  refuted,  which  has 
never  been  done,  I  believe,)  I  think  it  extremely  probable  that 
art,  having  copied  nature  so  far,  can  also  imitate  her  in  this ; 
and  that  clairvoyance  has  actually  been  produced  in  the  derange- 
ment of  the  nervous  system  caused  by  Mesmerism.  It  has  not  yet 
occurred  in  my  experience,  but  I  should  not  be  at  all  surprised  to 
encounter  it.  A  gentleman  who  saw  me  amputate  a  tumor,  28  lbs. 
weight,  the  other  day,  and  cut  and  rudely  handle  the  most  delicate 
parts  of  the  human  body  for  twenty  minutes  without  the  patient 
showing  a  sign  of  life,  said  at  the  conclusion,  "Well !  I  have 
learned  one  thing  to-day,  and  that  is — never  to  be  again  positive 
about  anything :  I  did  not  believe  a  word  of  it,  and  am  now  com- 
pletely convinced  of  its  truth ;''  and  those  who  wash  to  know  the 
truth  about  Mesmerism  will  do  well  to  follow  his  example. 

It  would  be  more  prudent  perhaps  to  continue  my  facts,  and 
plead  ignorance  of  the  modus  operandi  of  this  mysterious  agent ; 
but  it  is  impossible  not  to  think,  though  perhaps  little  to  the  pur- 
pose. By  turning  it  all  round  we  may  chance  to  make  a  happy 
hit,  perhaps ;  but  nothing  can  be  gained  by  indulging  only  in 
thoughtless  wonder :  I  shall,  therefore,  venture  to  put  down  what 
has  occurred  to  me  about  it. 

The  exhaustion  of  any  particular  organ,  the  eye  for  instance, 
and  the  consequent  derangement  of  the  nervous  system ;  the  shock 
given  to  the  nervous  centres  by  sudden  mental  emotions,  or  the 
effect  produced  on  the  imagination  by  a  powerful  mind  acting  on  a 
weaker ;  have  all  been  said,  and  truly,  to  simulate  the  mesmeric 
symptoms,  and  therefore  "imagination"  has  very  generally  got 


84  author's  theory. 

the  credit  of  being  the  "primum  mobile"  in  these  singular  affec- 
tions of  the  system ;  and  I  do  not  intend  to  dispute  its  power,  or 
the  reality  of  the  effects  produced  by  this  agency.  But  my  pro- 
found impression  is,  that  the  first  effects  produced  on  my  patients 
by  the  mode  of  practising  Mesmerism,  are  of  a  purely  physical 
nature ;  an  influence  exerted  by  one  animal  over  another,  under 
certain  circumstances  and  conditions  of  their  respective  systems. 
I  should  as  soon  adopt  the  "opium  diabolical,"  or  "all  humbug 
theory,"  as  a  satisfactory  solution  of  the  problem,  as  attempt  by 
the  action  of  the  imagination  to  account  for  what  I  have  seen  and 
done.  Would  the  most  imaginative  of  my  readers  ever  think  the 
following  process  as  a  likely  means  to  make  people  insensible*  to 
fire  and  steel,  by  the  effect  produced  on  the  imagination?  A 
Bengal  coolie,  or  pariah,  comes  before  mc  for  the  first  time,  and 
I  see  he  has  a  disease  requiring  a  surgical  operation ;  I  never  say 
a  word  to  him,  but  desire  my  assistants  to  take  him  to  another 
room  and  metmerise  him.  They  desire  him  to  lie  down,  shut  his 
eyes,  and  try  to  sleep,  and  they  pass  their  hands  slowly  over  the 
most  sensitive  parts  of  the  body ;  exhaling  their  breath  upon  the 
patient,  and  loading  him  with  their  sweat,  if  he  does  not  readily 
yield  to  the  mesmeric  influence.  A  few  minutes  of  this  will  some- 
times suffice,  but  more  generally  it  takes  hours,  and  relays  of 
mesmerisers ;  and  a  less  imaginative  process  I  cannot  imagine. 
Calomel,  rhubarb,  and  castor  oil,  have  all  the  same  effects,  and 
it  seems  to  me,  that  it  w^ould  be  as  reasonable  to  say  they  were 
therefore  all  the  same  thing,  as  to  declare  the  effects  of  the  above 
process  to  be  "all  imagination."  "Well !  there  is  one  thing  certain, 
and  that  is,  that  imagination  has  nothing  to  do  with  this,"  is  the 
common  remark  of  gentlemen  who  have  witnessed  the  cause  and 
effect,  and  whose  senses  are  not  stuffed  by  prejudice.  That  it 
mingles  inexplicably,  and  inextricably,  with  the  true  mesmeric 
influence,  after  the  constitution  has  taken  on  the  diseased  action 
deeply,  is  w-ell  known,  and  will  be  abundantly  shown  afterwards ; 
but  I  now  speak  of  first  effects,  on  which  alone  I  desire  to  insist, 
in  leading  proof  of  the  reality  and  nature  of  Mesmerism.  One 
person  induces  m.csmeric  symptoms  by  deranging  the  nervous 
equilibrium,  through  a  commotion  of  the  mind,  another  by  means 
of  squinting,  a  third  by  monotony  of  sensation,  &c. ;  the  same 
effects  being  produced  by  different  processes,  as  we  see  on  many 
other  occasions.  It  is  too  common  for  persons  engaged  in  the 
same  pursuit  to  become  exclusively  addicted  to  their  ozi'ii  tc\7y 
of  gaining  their  object,  and   when   a   new   path   is   open   they 


author's  theory.  85 

attempt  to  obstruct  it  as  an  inrringement  of  their  exclusive 
right  of  way.  "Your  way  is  not  my  way,  and  therefore  it  is 
wrong,"  argues  self-love ;  and  the  public  seeing  so  many  travellers 
pretending  to  reach  the  same  destination,  each  by  his  particular 
route,  and  every  one  proclaiming  his  to  be  the  only  true  road ;  the 
impatient  public,  with  its  usual  slashing  logic,  sets  them  all  down 
as  wrong,  and  declares  them  to  be  chasing  a  delusion.  Whereas, 
very  often,  they  are  all  right,  and  only  wrong  by  taking  too  limited 
a  view  of  the  subject :  the  combined  observations  of  all  will  prob- 
ably bring  us  near  the  truth,  and  each  plan  will  be  found  a  useful 
resource,  in  different  circumstances. 

It  seems  to  me  that  irregularity  in  the  distribution  of  the 
nervous  energy  is  at  the  bottom  of  all  the  mesmeric  symptoms, 
however  produced,  whether  naturally  or  artificially ;  and  I  suspect 
that  the  same  effects  may  follow  a  state  of  exhaustion  or  repletion 
of  the  nervous  system.  If  I  might  venture  on  so  material  an  illus- 
tration, I  should  say  that  the  first  effects  produced  in  the  system 
by  Mesmerism  may  be  likened  to  a  river  rolled  back  upon  its 
source  by  a  heavier  body  of  water,  stagnating  in  its  channel,  and 
unable  to  resume  its  usual  course,  till  the  opposing  tide  subsides. 

From  all  I  have  seen,  I  cannot  but  believe,  that  there  is  an  in- 
fluence of  some  kind  that  passes  from  one  person  into  another, 
when  one  of  two  persons  is  mesmerised  in  the  way  I  have  de- 
scribed ;  that,  in  fact,  there  is  a  virtual  transfusion  of  some  vital 
agent  from  the  one  body  into  the  other.  The  wonderful  subtlety 
as  well  as  the  effects  of  this  power,  lead  us  to  suspect  that  it  is  a 
nervous  product ;  and  may  it  not  be  the  nervous  energy  passing 
off  by  the  organs  of  serfse,  and  even  for  a  short  time  going  beyond 
the  surface  of  the  body;  the  lungs,  meanwhile,  and  periphery  of 
the  body,  retaining  their  vital  properties,  and  remaining  under  the 
direction  of  the  will?  Every  time  we  move  a  finger,  it  is  by 
transmitting  something  under  the  control  of  the  will  to  the  ends 
of  the  fingers,  and  why  should  it  not  go  farther?  Supposing  this 
to  be  possible,  and  that  this  nervous  emanation  can  be  directed  by 
one  person  upon  another,  then  I  would  venture  to  conjecture,  that, 
being  a  nervous  product,  it  is  accepted  by  the  nerves  of  sense,  on 
coming  into  contact  with  them  in  a  continuous  well-sustained 
stream,  and  is  transmitted  by  them  to  the  brain,  thereby  adding 
to,  rather  than  subtracting  from,  the  nervous  secretions  of  the 
brain,  which  it  is  their  duty  to  carry  off  as  soon  as  formed.  If 
the  sensorial  secretions  are  not  conveyed  away  by  the  nerves  of 
sense  and  volition,  and  the  exercise  of  the  perceptive  and  intellec- 


86  author's  theory. 

tual  organs,  the  brain  becomes  torpid  and  oppressed.  In  like 
manner,  the  transmission  of  foreign  nervous  matter  might  over- 
v/hehn  the  brain,  or  a  mere  stoppage  of  its  own  fluids  might  steep 
it  in  a  sleepy  drench,  and  the  functions  of  the  sensorium  would 
not  be  restored  until  the  usual  outlet  for  its  energies  were  re-estab- 
lished. 

The  entireness  of  the  organic  functions  would  seem  to  counte- 
nance the  idea,  that  the  external  influence  is  propagated  to  the 
brain  by  the  nerves  of  sense :  the  general  and  capillary  circulation, 
the  respiration,  and  temperature,  often  remain  tranquil,  and 
natural,  as  in  sleep ;  which  shows  that  organic  life  is  little  affected. 
The  accumulation  of  nervous  fluid-  that  oppresses  the  brain,  is  also 
seen  in  the  singular  condition  of  the  muscular  system,  and  may 
perhaps  explain  the  strange*  helplessness,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  wonderful  passive  power  of  resistance  in  the  muscles,  which 
enables  catalepiics  to  stand  asleep  in  the  most  painful  and  exhaust- 
ing attitudes,  longer  than  would  wear  out  the  strongest  and  most 
practised  athletse,  who  enjoy  all  the  resources  of  art  and  training. 
The  absorption  of  another's  nervous  emanations  being  thought 
possible,  and  this  abnormal  susceptibility  being  once  established, 
it  is  possible  to  conceive  the  extreme  degree  to  which  this  required 
habit,  of  transmitting  extraneous  nervous  fluids  to  the  brain,  may 
be  developed ;  and  we  can  comprehend  the  delicate  impressions 
that  would  be  made  by  so  subtle  an  agent  on  such  flue  conductors 
as  the  nerves  of  sense ;  nor,  on  such  a  supposition,  should  it  sur- 
prise us  to  be  told,  that  the  subject  receives  at  the  same  time  some 
impressions  of  the  individuality  of  the  agent,  and  manifests  a 
certain  degree  of  submission  to  his  zvill  even.  The  shades  of  such 
an  interchange  of  vitality  would  be  infinite,  and  probably  resemble 
the  efifects  which  we  are  told  can  actually  he  produced  by  the  mere 
will  of  the  mesmeriser  on  his  patient.  I  suspect,  however,  that 
considerable  error  exists  regarding  the  power  of  the  zvill  in  pro- 
ducing the  physioal  mesmeric  phenomena.  People  are  unlled  to 
sleep,  I  believe,  by  directing  our  nervous  influence  upon  them,  and 
simply  making  them  the  objects  of  our  attention,  which  is  sufficient 
to  impel  this  influence  against  them,  and,  if  they  have  become 
extremely  sensitive  to  the  impression,  the  usual  specific  efifects 
will  ensue,  and  they  appear  to  go  to  sleep  in  obedience  to  our  will 
that  they  should.  I  have  tested  this  in  a  variety  of  ways,  by 
desiring  Hindoos,  Mussulmans,  and  Europeans  of  all  professions, 
merely  to  concentrate  their  attention  upon  certain  highly  sensitive 
patients;  and  th»  results  were  as  striking  and  certain  as  if  the 


author's  theory.  S7 

most  energetic  will  had  been  directed  against  them.  On  one 
memorable  and  ludicrous  occasion,  I  induced  a  learned  brother 
(who  came  purposely  to  expose  the  "humbug")  to  give  me  the 
command  of  his  person  for  a  short  time.  The  result  was,  I  forced 
him,  against  his  zvill,  and  "in  spite  of  his  teeth,"  to  produce  all 
the  mesmeric  symptoms,  from  the  quivering  of  an  eyelid,  to  the 
most  intense  coma,  in  subjects  of  morbid  sensitiveness,  in  whom 
the  tendency  to  mesmeric  action  had  become  a  deep-rooted  dis- 
ease. The  will  is  no  doubt  very  influential  in  producing  first 
effects  by  giving  continuity  and  intensity  to  our  influence,  but  the 
system  having  been  once  deeply  affected,  the  simple  act  of  atten- 
tion, on  the  part  of  any  one,  seems  to  be  quite  sufficient  to  bring  it 
within  his  nervous  atmosphere  and  influence. 

But  I  wish  it  to  be  understood,  that  I  speak  only  of  the 
physical  and  inferior  mental  phenomena,  such  as  I  have  described; 
of  the  higher  mental  manifestations  I  have  no  personal  knowledge, 
and  to  produce  them,  mental  sympathy  will  no  doubt  be  indispens- 
able. That  the  nervous  sensibility  has  retreated  from  the  surface, 
and  the  organs  of  sense,  is  evident  to  all  observers,  by  the  univer- 
sal insensibility;  and  the  condition  of  the  brain,  and  muscular 
system,  would  seem  to  indicate  that  they  labour  under  the  effects 
of  this  revulsion.  The  means  used  to  de-mesmerise  particular 
organs,  and  the  brain  itself,  appear  to  act  by  determining  the  ner- 
vous currents  back  to  the  surface,  thereby  relieving  the  deeper 
organs  from  the  load  that  oppressed  them ;  at  least  I  cannot  ac- 
count for  the  following  singular  exhibition  in  any  other  way. 

Nov.  16. — In  the  presence  of  Mr.  S.  Palmer,  Major  Smith, 
Mr.  Stopford,  and  Dr.  Scott,  I  showed  the  spontaneous  develop- 
ment of  the  mesmeric  disease  (for  such  it  becomes,  if  pushed  far) 
in  a  man  who  becomes  entranced  to  the  most  intense  degree,  by 
being  merely  brought  into  my  presence :  every  one  was  left  to 
test  his  conditions,  in  his  own  way,  and  no  one  doubted  the  reality 
of  his  condition.  I  at  last  awoke  him  for  them,  and  carrying  him 
to  the  end  of  the  room,  placed  him  erect  against  the  wall ;  in  a 
few  minutes  he  relapsed  into  the  trance;  and  I  catalepsed  him 
in  the  attitude  of  St.  Andrew  on  the  cross.  I  then  mesmerised 
another  man,  only,  however,  to  the  extent  of  sealing  his  eyes, 
and  inducing  the  cataleptic  tendency  in  the  muscles :  having  set 
him  walking,  I  extended  his  arms  horizontally,  and  directed  him 
against  the  man  crucified  on  the  wall.  On  coming  into  contact 
with  him,  he  stopped,  and  I  urged  him  on,  asking  "what  stopped 
him?"    He  tried  in  vain  to  separate  his  eyelids,  in  order  that  he 


88  MODES  OF  DE-MESMERISING. 

might  see  the  nature  of  the  obstruction,  and,  having  no  use  of  his 
hands,  he  thought  of  helping  himself  by  rubbing  his  forehead 
against  the  object  before  him:  this  I  stopped  by  pulling  back  his 
head,  and  it  remained  stiffened  in  the  position  I  left  it.  He  was 
now  reduced  to  utter  helplessness,  as  his  feet  struck  nothing  but 
the  wall  below :  I  then  blew  on  his  neck,  thereby  immediately  re- 
leasing it,  and  on  being  again  urged  to  tell  what  was  in  his  way, 
he  began  rubbing  his  forehead  against  the  man,  as  before.  One 
arm  was  next  freed  in  the  same  way;  this  he  brought  into  play; 
then  the  other,  and  he  used  both  in  feeling  and  rubbing  the  man 
all  over,  with  the  greatest  earnestness,  but  without  a  vestige  of 
expression  in  his  countenance.  At  length,  he  said  there  was  a 
man  before  him.  I  also  showed,  that  my  breath  had  no  specific 
effect  by  doing  the  same  thing  with  a  fan ;  a  current  of  air  being 
all  that  was  required  to  dissolve  the  rigidity  of  the  muscles. 

Blowing  in  the  eyes  is  also  the  most  expeditious  way  of  re- 
lieving the  brain,  and  restoring  its  functions ;  rubbing  the  eyes, 
and  pouring  water  from  a  height  are  also  efficacious,  and  some- 
times are  all  needed  to  de-mesmerise  the  brain.  Air,  cold,  and 
friction,  are  natural  stimuli  to  the  skin,  and  the  most  likely  means 
to  restore  its  sensibility,  if  diminished ;  and  I  imagine  that  they 
relax  the  mucles  by  determining  again  to  the  surface  the  nervous 
currents,  which  had  been  thrown  back  upon  the  muscular  system, 
when  I  produced  its  cataleptic  condition.  I  cannot  otherwise  ac- 
count for  the  following  singular  effects  of  cold,  which,  from  my 
patients  being  naked,  I  can  apply  in  any  way  I  please.  On  several 
occasions,  I  have  entranced  persons  standing,  stript  them  naked, 
and  catalepsed  them  in  the  most  painful  postures  imaginable  and 
in  these  they  would  remain  an  incredible  length  of  time,  but  let  a 
little  cold  water  be  squirted  from  a  distance  on  any  member,  and 
it  became  instantly  relaxed.  If  both  arms  were  fixed  perpen- 
dicularly in  the  air,  one  after  the  other  was  shot  down  instantly, 
by  a  slight  stream  of  water;  and  if  it  was  directed  to  the  calf  of 
the  leg  the  person  fell,  as  if  he  had  been  hamstrung:  or  if  the 
body  was  catalepsed,  out  of  the  perpendicular,  squirting  water  on 
the  loins  would  send  the  patient  head  foremost  against  the  ground. 
Blowing  on,  or  rubbing  any  part  had  the  same  effect,  but  the  gen- 
eral torpor  is  often  too  deep  to  exhibit  these  sensibilities,  and 
such  persons  are  awoke  with  great  difficulty,  by  the  use  of  all  the 
de-mesmerising  agents. 

The  respiratory  nerves  of  the  face  are  more  particularly  sensi- 
tive to  the  impressions  of  air,  cold,  and  friction ;  indeed  the  shock 


'author's  theory.  89 

given  to  a  somnambulist  by  blowing  in  his  face  simply,  often  re- 
sembles the  effects  of  an  actual  blow,  and  is  sufficient  to  awake 
him ;  how,  I  cannot  possibly  imagine,  unless  it  be  by  acting  as  a 
relief  to  the  brain,  by  restoring  its  secretions  to  their  natural 
channels. 

Having  followed,  and  imitated,  nature  so  far,  in  produciiig 
different  symptoms  according  to  the  extent  of  the  nervous  de- 
rangement we  induce,  I  see  nothing  more  wonderful  in  the  mes- 
meric phenomena  than  in  the  disturbances  that  occur  in  the  at- 
mosphere, when  the  electric  relations  of  the  earth  and  air  are 
changed,  and  the  equilibrium  for  a  time  destroyed;  but  we  need 
not,  I  suspect,  seek  for  this  marvellous  agent  among  the  great 
inorganic  powers  of  nature;  for  if  they  are  employed,  they  are 
so  altered  and  endowed  with  new  vital  qualities,  by  being  sub- 
jected to  the  principle  of  life,  that  they  are  no  longer  recognisable 
after  being  converted  from  their  control  of  brute  matter,  to  be 
the  directing  powers  of  animal  life ;  and  I  fear  the  secret  lies  too 
near  the  sources  of  life  and  death  for  man  to  be  permitted  to 
approach  it  very  nearly. 

That  an  agent  capable  of  affecting  the  physical  condition  of 
the  brain  to  such  a  degree,  should  have  no  influence  on  it  as  the 
organ  of  thought,  appears,  at  first  sight,  extremely  improbable, 
and  we  might  reasonably  expect  the  production  of  singular  and 
abnormal  mental  phenomena,  when  the  influence  was  directed 
so  as  to  act  principally  upon  the  intellectual  organs.  Like  wine 
and  opiimi,  the  extreme  degree  of  the  mesmeric  influence  torpifies 
the  brain,  but  in  smaller  quantities,  it  is  a  bodily  and  mental 
stimulus,  and  if  it  be  possible  to  transfuse  our  cerebral  fluid  into 
the  brain  of  another,  I  see  no  absurdity  in  supposing  that  it  may 
be  stamped  with  our  individuality,  and  may,  for  a  time,  induce 
a  synchrony  of  action  between  the  brains  of  the  giver  and  the 
recipient. 

But,  beyond  the  simpler  manifestations  of  somnambulism,  all 
is  so  dark,  that  to  stop  short,  and  wait  for  farther  evidence,  is 
better  than  to  advance  and  step  in  the  dark.  The  ignorance  and 
presumption  of  man ;  his  passion  for  the  mysterious  and  marvel- 
lous, his  powers  of  self-delusion,  with  the  pranks  of  knaves  and 
the  simplicity  of  fools,  have  so  mystified  the  subject,  that  the 
artificial  difiiculties  cost  us  more  trouble  to  remove  than  the  nat- 
ural ;  and  a  mass  of  rubbish  must  be  removed  before  we  can 
reach  the  foundation  stone  of  truth. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Mesmeric  Processes. — Publicity  the  best  Security  to  the  Pub- 
lic.— Ignorance  and  Indifference  the  real  Dangers. — Mesmeric 
Treatment  of  Disease  a  Field  for  the  Philanthropist. — Piiyse- 
gur  and  Delenze,  tinprofcssional  Men. — Processes  for  produc- 
ing Coma. — Tumour  in  Upper  Jazi/  removed  during 
Coma. — Hypertrophy  of  Scrotum,  ditto. — Trance  renew- 
able at  Pleasure. — Three  consecutive  Operations  on  one 
Person. — Mode  of  Mesmerising  in  Chronic  Diseases. — Cure 
of  Rheumatism  and  Nervousness. — Local  Mesmerising. — 
Mesmerised  Water. — Process  for  preparing  it. — First  experi- 
ments zanth  it. — The  last. — Means  of  azvaking  Persons  Mes- 
merised. 

At  the  commencement  of  my  mesmeric  experiments,  I  had  re- 
solved to  communicate  only  to  professional  men  the  modes  which 
I  had  found  most  effectual  in  educing  the  influences  of  Mesmer- 
ism. ■  I  was,  at  first,  alarmed  at  the  possible  dangers  to  the  public, 
were  the  most  effectual  means  of  producing  the  extreme  degrees 
of  Mesmerism  generally  known ;  but  I  am  now  of  opinion  that 
the  greatest  danger  to  a  community  is  a  contemptuous  disregard 
of  an  unseen  and  unknown  enemy,  and,  therefore,  all  I  know  on 
this  important  subject  shall  be  revealed.  The  best  means  of 
avoiding  danger  is  to  know  its  full  extent,  and,  sometimes,  the 
best  policy  is  to  meet  it  half  way,  fully  prepared  to  repel  it.  Wliile 
the  public  remain  in  a  listless  indifferent  humour  about  Mesmer- 
ism, the  dangers  from  an  abuse  of  it  are  very  likely, — I  may  say 
are  very  certain — to  occur.  But  when,  by  attending  to  the  fol- 
lowing directions,  proofs  of  its  truth  shall  pour  in  from  every 
quarter,  then  Mesmerism  will  come  home  to  men's  minds  as  a 
reality,  and  become  an  object  of  personal  interest  to  all ;  and 
the  instinct  of  self-preservation  wall  rouse  people  to  take  the 
necessary  steps  for  deriving  all  the  benefit,  and  avoiding  all  the 
danger  attending  its  practice.  If  evil  arises,  let  the  blame  rest  on 
the  culpable  negligence  of  the  public,  and  the  punishment  fall  on 
those  who  pervert  good  to  evil. 

The  utmost  publicity  is  most  consonant  to  my  taste,  and,  upon 
the  whole,  the  best  security  to  the  public. 

Many  benevolent  and  honourable  unprofessional  persons  may 

90 


PUBLICITY   THE   BEST    SECURITY.  9I 

also  be  induced  to  exercise  their  natural  gifts,  in  the  alleviation 
of  human  suffering,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  physician, 
who  cannot  spare  the  time,  and  waste  of  body,  which  are  re- 
quired before  his  patients  can  be  benefitted  by  the  processes  of 
Mesmerism.  The  persons  to  whom  Europe  owes  its  knowledge 
of  Mesmerism,  uncontaminated  by  self-interest  and  the  devices 
of  quackery,  were  unprofessional  men,  the  Baron  Puysegur  and 
M.  Deleuze ;  the  one  a  wealthy  French  nobleman,  who  conse- 
crated his  life  to  relieving  the  sufferings  of  the  poor,  and  who 
said  it  was  his  mission  to  lodge  Mesmerism  in  the  hands  of  the 
doctors  (a  trust  they  have  been  very  neglectful  of,  unfortu- 
nately;) and  the  other,  a  truthful  and  benevolent  man  of  letters, 
long  keeper  of  the  "Jardin  dcs  Plantes,"  at  Paris,  who  practised 
the  art  for  thirty-five  years,  and  whose  works  are  most  honest 
and  true  guides;  errors  of  judgTnent,  to  which  all  are  subject, 
being  their  only  defects;  as  I  have  tested  by  experience,  before 

reading  them.  

^oma^-l  usually  .procure  in  the  following  manner,  and  am 
inclined  to  think  that  its  comparative  rarity  in  Europe  is  owing 
to  the  mesmeric  influence  not  being  at  once  sufficiently  concen- 
trated on  the  patient,  by  transmitting  it  to  his  brain  from  all  the 
organs  of  the  operator,  and  through  every  channel  by  which  it 
can  be  communicated.  With  the  necessary  degree  of  patience, 
and  sustained  attention,  the  following  process  is  so  effectual  in 
producing  coma,  that  in  a  large  enough  field,  and  with  properly 
instructed  assistants,  it  may  here  be  obtained  daily,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  procuring  insensibility  to  surgical  operations.  No  trial 
under  an  hour  should  be  reckoned  a  fair  one ;  two  hours  are  bet- 
ter ;  and  the  most  perfect  success  will  often  follow  frequent  fail- 
ures, but  insensibility  is  sometimes  induced  in  a  few  minutes. 

Desire  the  patient  to  lie  down,  and  compose  himself  to  sleep, 
taking  care,  if  you  wish  to  operate,  that  he  does  not  know  your 
intention :  this  object  may  be  gained  by  saying  it  is  only  a  trial ; 
for  fear  and  expectation  are  destructive  to  the  physical  impres- 
sion required.  IBring  the  crown  of  the  patient's  head  to  the  end 
of  the  bed,  and  seat  yourself  so  as  to  be  able  to  bring  your  face 
into  contact  with  his,  and  extend  your  hands  to  the  pit  of  the 
stomach,  when  it  is  wished;  make  the  room  dark,  enjoin  quiet, 
and  then  shutting  your  patient's  eyes,  begin  to  pass  both  your 
tiands,  in  the  shape  of  claws,  slowly,  within  an  inch  of  the  sur- 
face, from  the  back  of  the  head  to  the  pit  of  the  stomach ;  dwell- 
ing for  several  minutes  over  the  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth,  and  then 


92  MODE  OF  OPERATION. 

passing  down  each  side  of  the  neck,  go  downwards  to  the  pit  of 
the  stomach,  keeping  your  hands  suspended  there  for  someTimeV 
Tvepeat  this  process  steadily  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  breathing 
gently  on  the  head  and  eyes  all  the  time._  The  longitudinal  passes 
may  then  be  advantageously  terminated,  by  placing  both  hands" 
gently,  but  firmly,  on  the  pit  of  the  stomach  and  sides ; — the" 
perspiration  and  saliva  seem  also  to  aid  the  effect  on  the  system. 

It  is  better  not  to  test  the  patient's  condition  by  speaking  to 
him,  but  by  gently  trying  if  the  cataleptic  tendency  exists  in  the 
arms.  If  the  arms  remain  fixed  in  any  position  they  are  left 
in,  and  require  some  force  to  move  them  out  of  every  new  posi- 
tion, the  process  has  been  successful ;  the  patient  may  soon  after 
be  called  upon  by  name,  and  pricked,  and  if  he  does  not  awake, 
the  operation  may  be  proceeded  with.  It  is  impossible  to  say  to 
what  precise  extent  the  insensibility  will  befriend  us :  the  trance 
is  sometimes  completely  broken  by  the  knife,  but  it  can  occasion- 
ally be  reproduced  by  continuing  the  process,  and  then  the  sleeper 
remembers  nothing;  he  has  only  been  disturbed  by  a  night-mare, 
of  which  on  waking  he  retains  no  recollection.  Here  is  an  in- 
stance of  this. 

July  29th. — In  the  presence  of  some  sixty  gentlemen,  who 
came  from  Calcutta  and  the  vicinity,  I  to-day  cut  off  an  enlarged 
and  ulcerated  prepuce;  the  man  moved,  and  cried  out,  before  1 
had  finished,  but  was  immediately  thrown  back  into  the  trance, 
from  which  all  the  efforts  of  the  spectators,  six  doctors  included, 
could  not  arouse  him,  or  excite  a  sign  of  vitality.  He  was  oper- 
ated on,  at  twelve  o'clock,  and  awoke  at  three :  on  being  ques- 
tioned, he  said,  that  he  had  felt  no  pain,  and  had  not  seen  an 
European  that  day.  Next  day,  he  complained  of  the  pricks  of 
pins,  inflicted  upon  him  by  my  visitors,  who  had  actually  made 
a  pincushion  of  him.  In  future,  I  must  request  that  pins  be  left 
at  the  door. 

The  person  can  be  raised  into  any  position  required  for  the 
operation  ;  but  some  peculiarity  in  the  case  may  demand  the  sit- 
ting posture  from  the  commencement,  as  in  the  following  in- 
stance. 

June  3d. — Teencowrie  Paulit,  a  peasant,  aged  40.  Two  years 
ago,  he  began  to  suffer  from  a  tumour  in  the  antrum  maxillare ; 
the  tumour  has  pushed  upon  the  orbit  of  the  eye,  filled  up  the 
nose,  passed  into  the  throat,  and  caused  an  enlargement  of  the 
glands  of  the  neck. 

I  was  very  desirous  to  reduce  him  to  a  state  of  insensibility 


ILLUSTRATIVE    CASE.  93 

before  operating  on  him,  and  for  the  last  fortnight  my  assistants 
have  all  pcrscvcringly  tried  it,  but  without  inducing  sleep  even. 
Indeed,  from  the  tumour  obstructing  his  throat,  he  has  hardly 
slept  for  five  months.  Having  ascertained  that  he  was  easier 
when  sitting,  I  took  him  in  hand  myself,  to-day,  and  entranced 
him  in  a  chair  by  the  following  process.  The  room  being  dark-  " 
ened,  I  suspended  my  spread  hands  over  his  head  for  some  time, 
and  then  carried  them  slowly  down,  one  in  front,  the  other  behind  ; 
the  former  dwelling  over  the  eyes,  nose,  mouth,  and  sides  of  the 
neck,  and  the  latter  being  applied  over  the  base  of  the  brain: 
both  were  then  carried  down  the  centre  of  the  body,  claw-like, 
to  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  where  they  were  spread  and  gently 
pressed,  one  opposite  the  other ;  and  I  kept  breathing  on  the  head 
and  eyes  all  the  time.  In  half  an  hour,  the  man  was  catalcpsed, 
and  in  a  quarter  more,  I  performed  one  of  the  most  severe  and 
protracted  operations  in  surgery;  the  man  was  totally  uncon- 
scious. 

I  put  a  long  knife  in  at  the  corner  of  his  mouth,  and  brought 
the  point  out  over  the  cheek-bone,  dividing  the  parts  between  ; 
from  this,  I  pushed  it  through  the  skin  at  the  inner  corner  of 
the  eye,  and  dissected  the  cheek  back  to  the  nose.  The  pressure 
of  the  tumour  had  caused  the  absorption  of  the  anterior  wall  of 
the  antrum,  and  on  pressing  my  fingers  between  it  and  the  bones, 
it  burst,  and  a  shocking  gush  of  blood,  and  brain-like  matter, 
followed.  The  tumour  extended  as  far  as  my  finger  could  reach 
under  the  orbit  and  cheek-bone,  and  passed  into  the  gullet — • 
having  destroyed  the  bones  and  partition  of  the  nose.  No  one 
touched  the  man,  and  I  turned  his  head  into  any  position  I  de- 
sired, without  resistance,  and  there  it  remained  till  I  wished  to 
move  it  again :  when  the  blood  accumulated,  I  bent  his  head  for- 
ward, and  it  ran  from  his  mouth  as  if  from  a  leaden  spout.  The 
man  never  moved,  nor  showed  any  signs  of  life,  except  an  occa- 
sional indistinct  moan;  but  v/hen  I  threw  back  his  head,  and 
passed  my  fingers  into  his  throat  to  detach  the  mass  in  that  direc- 
tion, the  stream  of  blood  was  directed  into  his  wind-pipe,  and 
some  instinctive  effort  became  necessary  for  existence ;  he  there- 
fore coughed,  and  leaned  forward,  to  get  rid  of  the  blood ;  and  I 
supposed  that  he  then  awoke.  The  operation  was  by  this  time 
finished,  and  he  was  laid  on  the  floor  to  have  his  face  sewed  up, 
and  while  this  was  doing,  he  for  the  first  time  opened  his  eyes. 

June  4th. — This  is  even  a  more  wonderful  affair  than  I  sup- 
posed yesterday.    The  man  declares  by  the  most  emphatic  panto- 


94 


MESMERIC  COMA. 


mime,  that  he  felt  no  pain  while  in  the  chair,  and  that  when  he 
awoke,  I  was  engaged  in  sewing  up  his  face,  on  the  floor ; — so 
that  the  coughing  and  forward  movement  to  get  rid  of  the  blood, 
were  involuntary,  instinctive  efforts,  to  prevent  suffocation. 

June  6th. — The  dressings  were  undone  to-day,  and  the  whole 
extent  of  the  wounds  in  the  face  has  united  completely  by  the 
first  intention.  He  is  out  of  all  danger,  and  can  speak  plainly: 
he  declares  most  positively,  that  he  knew  nothing  that  had  been 
done  to  him  until  he  awoke  on  the  floor,  and  found  me  sewing 
up  his  cheek ; — and  I  presume  he  knows  best.  Here  is  a  trans- 
lation of  his  own  statement  in  Bengalee: — 

"For  two  years  I  laboured  under  this  disease,  and  scarcely 
slept  for  five  months.  On  the  19th  May,  I  came  to  the  Imam- 
barah  Hospital,  and  three  or  four  persons  tried  to  make  me  sleep, 
but  all  in  vain.  On  the  3d  June  Dr.  Esdaile  having  kindly  un- 
dertaken my  cure,  with  a  great  deal  of  labour,  made  me  sleep, 
and  took  something  out  of  my  left  cheek,  which  at  that  time  I 
did  not  perceive.  After  the  operation,  I  did  not  sleep  for  two 
nights,  but  after  the  third  day,  I  have  slept  as  usual. 

"Teencowrie  Paulit, 
of  Madra." 

If  patients  are  fortunate  enough  to  sleep  some  time  after  the 
operation,  they  not  only  feel  no  pain  on  waking,  but  none  subse- 
quently even.  The  following  is  an  extraordinary  instance  of 
the  absence  of  pain,  from  first  to  last. 

Sept.  ist. — Teg  Ali  Khan,  a  tall  strong-looking  man;  has  a 
hypertrophied  scrotum,  caused  by  repeated  operations  for  hydro- 
cele by  native  doctors ;  who  only  withdraw  the  water  as  often  as 
it  accumulates,  without  attempting  the  radical  cure.  The  tumour 
is  perfectly  round,  and  as  big  as  a  man's  head.  He  was  mesmer- 
ised in  two  hours,  on  the  first  trial,  and,  in  the  presence  of  Drs. 
Ross  and  Sissmore,  I  dissected  out  all  the  parts ;  which  v.^1s  very 
tedious,  from  the  testes  having  contracted  adhesions  all  round 
them ;  and  it  was  about  half  an  hour  before  the  organs  were  cov- 
ered up  again  by  stitching  flaps  over  them.  Not  a  quiver  of  the 
flesh  was  visible  all  this  time,  and  at  the  end,  his  body  was  as 
stiflF  as  a  log,  from  head  to  foot,  and  his  separated  legs  could 
be  with  difficulty  put  together  again.  He  awoke  in  half  an  hour 
after  the  operation,  and  felt  no  pain. 

Sept.  4th. — The  stitches  were  taken  out  to-day ;  the  wound 
has  healed  throughout,  and  he  has  had  no  pain  whatever  since 


IIJJ'STRATIVR    CASE.  95 

the  operation  ; — so  much  for  the  absence  of  the  usual  irritative 
shock  to  the  system. 

We  can  renew  the  trance  at  pleasure,  in  order  to  render  people 
insensible  to  repeated  operations. 

Sept.  i8th. — Morally  Dass,  a  peasant,  aged  fifty,  has  an 
unhealthy  cartilaginous  sore,  half  an  inch  high  above  the  skin, 
and  extending  for  six  inches  along  the  outer  ham-string  of  the 
left  leg,  which  it  has  contracted  to  nearly  a  right  angle  with  the 
thigh,  for  a  year  past. 

He  was  entranced  to-day,  for  the  first  time,  and  I  deeply 
cauterised  the  whole  sore  with  a  red-hot  plaister  iron,  without 
awaking  him. 

Sept.  19th. — The  excrescence  is  so  hard,  and  thick,  that  it 
must  be  dissected  oflf  the  ham-string:  he  was  again  entranced, 
and  the  diseased  part  was  pared  down  to  a  level  with  the  sur- 
rounding skin,  without  his  feeling  it. 

Sept.  20th. — When  he  was  in  the  trance  to-day  I  straightened 
the  leg  completely,  and  bound  it  up  in  splints:  he  awoke  not, 
and  when  he  did,  had  no  pain ;  although  it  took  all  my  strength 
and  weight  to  break  down  the  adhesions,  which  I  felt  and  heard 
cracking  under  my  hands.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Bradbury  saw  the  first 
operation.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  and  Mr.  Graves,  the  second, 
and  Mr.  Blyth  the  third.  In  the  treatment  of  chronic  diseases 
suited  for  Mesmerism,  coma  is  not  required :  if  it  occurs,  it  is 
probably  because  nature  needs  it ;  but  we  ought  to  be  satisfied 
with  the  improvement  of  the  patient,  though  it  is  unaccompanied 
with  any  striking  phenomena.  The  system  is  not  less  effectually 
recruited,  because  it  is  done  silently, — just  as  the  best  digestion 
is  least  felt.  For  refreshing  the  nervous  system,  and  inducing 
natural  sleep,  mesmerising  "a  longs  courants,"  as  the  French 
call  it,  it  will  be  found  sufficient.  These  are  steady  continuous 
tractions,  with  the  point  of  the  spread  fingers,  from  head  to 
foot ;  the  head  may  be  occasionally  breathed  upon,  and  the  hands 
allowed  to  rest  for  a  few  minutes  on  the  pit  of  the  stomach.  An 
hour  of  this,  on  going  to  bed,  will  often  soothe  restlessness,  bring 
back  natural  sleep,  and  invigorate  the  nervous  system. 

Sept.  25th. — Mr.  Calder  (I  mention  his  name  at  his  own- re- 
quest,) who  has  been  twenty  years  in  India,  came  to  me  to-day, 
complaining  of  general  rheumatism,  nervousness,  and  debility. 
He  walks  with  great  difficulty,  with  the  help  of  a  stick,  and 
cannot  ascend  a  stair.  His  nerves  are  shattered,  his  eye-sight  is 
weak,  and  his  hands  tremble  when  writing;  when  he  walks  on 


OC  T"F 


96  MESMERIC  COMA. 

smooth  ground,  he  fancies  that  it  sHps  from  below  him,  and  the 
effort  made  to  save  himself  nearly  throws  him  down :  of  late  he 
has  not  been  able  to  drive  his  buggy,  from  a  feeling  that  it  is 
impossible  for  him  to  prevent  his  liorse  from  running  into  any 
carriage  he  meets.  He  has  been  in  this  state  for  two  years  and 
a  half;  during  which  he  has  gone  a  tour  of  doctors,  and  swal- 
lowed a  dispensary  of  physic,  to  no  good  purpose.  I  said  that 
I  could  not  in  conscience  physic  him  more,  but  recommended  him 
to  try  what  nature  would  do  for  him,  as,  upon  the  whole,  I 
thought  his  case  adapted  for  mesmeric  treatment,  but  that  it 
would  require  time  and  patience  to  do  him  any  good.  He  was 
very  glad  of  any  untried  chance  of  relief,  and  I  desired  one  of 
my  people  to  mesmerise  him  for  an  hour  in  bed,  every  night. 

Never  having  been  present  when  Mr.  Calder  was  mesmerised, 
I  am  indebted  to  him  for  the  following  note  of  his  case. 

"On  the  25th  of  September  last,  your  native  assistant,  as 
directed  by  you,  made  the  first  attempt  to  induce  the  mesmeric 
sleep,  but  without  success :  the  trial  lasted  for  an  hour  and  a  half. 

"26th  and  27th  September,  ditto. 

"28th. — After  a  persevering  trial  for  the  same  length  of 
time,  I  was  thrown  into  a  trance,  from  which  I  awoke  after  up- 
wards of  five  hours, — I  found  great  difficulty  in  raising  my  eye- 
lids, or  keeping  my  eyes  open.  I  left  the  couch  and  retired  to 
bed,  and  had  my  natural  sleep  afterwards,  till  six  o'clock  next 
morning.  For  a  week  afterwards,  the  efforts  to  mesmerise  me 
were  repeated  for  an  hour  daily,  but  without  farther  effect  than 
causing  a  sleep  of  a  few  minutes.  I  however  continued  to  enjoy 
my  natural  rest  at  night,  found  my  pains  abating  daily,  and  my 
nerves  considerably  braced  up ;  so  much  so,  that  I  could  walk 
up  and  down  stairs  without  assistance,  and  with  every  confidence 
drive  out  in  a  buggy  alone,  w\hich  I  could  not  have  attempted 
for  two  years  and  a  half  previously. 

"Up  to  the  17th  of  Oct.  I  was  thrown  into  sleep,  every  third 
or  fourth  night,  for  about  two  hours ;  the  effect  of  which  you 
may  judge  of,  from  my  being  able  to  walk  yesterday  morning 
more  than  four,  and  this  morning,  more  than  six  miles. 

"(Signed)  J.  Calder. 
"Oct.  28th,  1845." 

This  is  the  gentleman  who,  I  said,  recognised  the  identity  of 
the  mesmeric  processes  with  the  Indian  modes  of  charming  away 
pain. 


MESMERISED   WATER.  97 

Topical  mesmerising, — by  suspending  the  ends  of  the  fingers 
over  the  pained  part,  breathing  on  it  at  the  same  time,  and  then 
drawing  the  fingers  downwards,  continued  for  a  long  enough 
time,  say  an  hour  or  two, — is  often  very  efifectual  in  soothing 
local  pain;  and  I  have  seen  it  relieve  the  pain  in  gout,  bruises, 
and  rheumatism. 

The  much  ridiculed  "mesmerised  water"  is  another  means 
of  producing  the  mesmeric  symptoms,  and  as  it  is  practically 
useful,  the  process  for  preparing  it  shall  be  described;  and  let 
those  who  do  not  choose  to  avail  themselves  of  it,  let  it  alone. 
But  before  doing  this,  and  illustrating  its  effects  by  facts,  it  will 
perhaps  be  advisable  to  clear  the  way  for  the  reception  of  them, 
by  showing  that  there  is  no  prima  facie  absurdity  or  impossibility 
about  the  matter.  In  accordance  with  Lord  Bacon's  advice,  I 
will  "foment  the  part  to  make  the  unguent  enter  the  better."  To 
those  who  will  condescend  to  think  seriously  on  the  subject,  and 
apply  their  previous  knov.dcdge  to  the  examination  of  it,  I  would 
suggest,  that  if  there  is  a  vital  emanation  from  the  body,  called 
"Mesmerism,"  there  is  nothing  improbable  in  the  assertion  that 
it  can  be  communicated  to  water  and  other  inorganic  substances, 
like  other  invisible  and  imponderable  agents.  Water  absorbs  air 
and  different  gases,  and  the  odours  of  neighbouring  objects  with 
great  facility;  a  glass  of  water  can  be  charged  with  electricity, 
or  an  empty  glass  filled  with  it.  Mesmerism  has  been  called 
"animal  electricity,"  and  if  correctly  named,  we  should  expect 
it  to  resemble  inorganic  electricity  in  many  particulars:  but 
whether  it  is  a  modification  of  electricity  or  not,  I  can  see  no 
reason  why  water  should  not  absorb  an  invisible  animal  fluid,  as 
easily  as  a  fluid  which  is  imperceptible  and  organic.  There  is 
nothing  in  the  known  lav;s  of  physics  to  make  it  improbable  that 
water  can  be  mesmerised,  as  well  as  electrified.  On  the  contrary, 
it  seemed  to  me  so  probable  from  analogy,  that  I  fully  believed 
the  statements  of  others  regarding  it,  and  made  my  first  experi- 
ments with  considerable  confidence. 

Deleuze,  a  most  honest  and  trustworthy  man,  and  who  had 
practised  Mesmerism,  for  thirty-five  years  in  France,  with  great 
success,  gives  the  following  directions  for  mesmerising  water. 
"It  is  to  be  poured  over  the  tips  of  the  fingers,  and  the  glass  is 
then  to  be  mesmerised  by  passing  the  hands  down  its  sides,  and 
the  water  may  also  be  breathed  upon."  The  following  process, 
though  less  delicate,  is  a  shorter,  and,  I  believe,  a  more  efifectual 
mode  of  charging  water  with  the  mesmeric  fluid. 


98  MESMERISED   WATER. 

As  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  breath  is  impreg- 
nated with  the  vital  fluid,  I  breathe  through  a  tube  into  the  bot- 
tom of  a  cupful  of  water,  keeping  the  points  of  the  fingers  in 
contact  with  the  surface ;  in  five  minutes  the  water  is  charged, 
.^        and  here  are  my  first  experiments  with  it. 

j~^  June  2Sth. — From  her  extreme  sensibility  to  the  influence,  it 

H        seemed  to  be  probable  that  the  woman  Alunga  would  exhibit  in 

^  perfection  the  virtues  of  mesmerised  water,  if  it  had  any.     In 

the  presence  of  my  hospital  attendants,  I  to-day  took  an  ounce  of 

water  from  the  common  reservoir,  and  mesmerised  it,  putting 

the  like  quantity  of  plain  water  into  another  glass.     We  then 

,',         went  into  the  women's  ward,  and  I  gave  the  plain  water  first 

C         very  slowly,  asking  her  if  it  had  any  taste?     It  was  only  plain 

I.         water,  she  said;  I  then  gave  her  the  other;  after  waiting  some 

^^         time,  she  said  it  was  different  from  the  first, — that  it  was  sharp 

to  the  tongue,  and  created  a  warmth  in  the  stomach.     Almost 

immediately,    her   countenance    began    to   change;    she   insisted 

~  upon  getting  up  to  walk ;  and  I  immediately  saw  that  she  was  a 

somnambulist :  after  taking  a  few  staggering  steps,  she  would 

have  fallen,  but  was  prevented,  and  taken  back  to  bed,  where 

she  instantly  sank  into  the  mesmeric  coma,  and  remained  so  for 

hours. 

June  29th. — I  to-day  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Long,  from  Calcutta,  a  stranger  to  me  and  mesmerism,  who 
asked  me  if  I  could  show  him  any  mesmeric  cases  in  the  hospital 
at  present.  I  replied  that  I  should  be  happy  to  verify,  in  his 
presence,  an  important  experiment  regarding  the  efficacy  of  mes- 
merised water,  which  I  had  made  for  the  first  time,  yesterday.  I 
was  glad  to  learn  that  he  had  never  heard  of  such  a  thing;  and 
he  willingly  agreed  to  accompany  me  to  the  hospital. 

I  took  the  same  quantity  of  water  as  yesterday,  out  of  the 
common  cistern,  and  charged  it  before  him,  and  again  put  the 
same  measure  of  plain  water  in  another  glass,  the  woman  being 
unconscious  of  our  presence.  We  then  went  to  her,  administered 
the  common  water  first,  and  waited  for  the  effects ;  none  appear- 
ing, the  mesmerised  water  was  given,  and  in  a  few  minutes  her 
expression  altered ;  she  rose,  and  walked  in  a  wavering  uncertain 
manner,  and  then  set  about  washing  the  floor,  which  was  dirty, 
she  said.  Soon  after  she  complained  of  the  room  being  full  of 
kites,  crows,  and  paddy  birds,  and  desired  them  to  be  scared  away. 
On  being  asked  who  I  was,  she  said  I  was  a  Baboo,  and  that  the 
sweeper  was  her  brother  Essan,  who  had  come  to  take  her  home ; 


ILLUSTRATIVE   CASE.  99 

she  was  put  to  bed,  and  immediately  fell  into  the  mesmeric  trance. 
We  then  retired  to  talk  over  the  matter,  and  I  asked  Mr.  Long  if 
he  had  any  doubts  that  could  be  resolved  on  the  spot.  He  said, 
nothmg  could  be  more  certain  than  the  connection  of  cause  and 
effect,  and  that  he  would  gladly  certify  to  it.  After  some  time 
we  returned  to  her,  and  1  awoke  her,  all  but  her  eyes ;  these  she 
could  not  open ;  but  this  being  done  with  my  assistance,  she  was 
seen  to  be  in  complete  possession  of  all  her  senses  and  faculties, 
as  was  evinced  by  her  ready  and  consistent  replies,  and  the  total 
revolution  in  her  countenance. 

June  30th. — I  thought  of  varying  the  experiment  on  the 
woman  Alunga,  whom  I  had  not  seen  to-day :  I  therefore  w^nt 
to  the  house  of  my  assistant,  and  asked  him  to  give  me  a  phial 
and  a  little  water,  telling  him.  my  intentions,  which  were  to  call 
for  Mr.  Betts,  the  deputy-collector  (who  had  never  seen  Mes- 
merism and  to  whom  I  had  never  spoken  on  the  sub- 
ject.) and  request  him  to  go  to  the  hospital,  give  the  water 
to  the  wjoman,  and  then  send  to  inform  me  that  it  was  done. 
Having  mesmerised  the  water,  I  carried  the  phial  to  Mr.  Betts, 
and  begged  him  to  be  good  enough  to  perform  an  experiment 
for  me,  and  at  the  same  time  satisfy  his  curiosity,  perhaps.  I 
assured  him,  on  my  honour,  that  this  was  pure  w'ater,  only  mes- 
merised, and  requested  him  to  go  and  give  it  to  the  woman  named 
Alunga,  and  then  to  let  me  know.  He  kindly  consented,  and  in 
a  short  time  a  messenger  came  for  me ;  when  I  arrived,  the  woman 
was  getting  up  to  walk,  in  the  sam.e  delirious  state  as  on  former 
occasions,  her  phantasms  only  being  varied ;  and  again  she  could 
not  open  her  eyes,  even  by  pulling:  when  partially  opened  they 
instantly  closed  again,  till  I  relieved  her  by  blowing  and  rubbing. 
On  awaking  there  was  no  vestige  of  derangement  in  her  mind 
or  perceptions.  Mr.  Betts  was  sure  of  the  facts  he  had  witnessed, 
but,  I  suspect,  had  some  difficulty  in  believing  that  lie  had  only 
given  water. 

June  28th. — Sidissur  Ghose,  a  prisoner,  in  a  different  hos- 
pital ;  I  saw  him  for  the  first  time  to-day,  at  1 1  o'clock ;  he  has 
been  suffering  for  three  days  from  inflammation  of  the  testes,  ■ 
which  were  extrem.ely  tender  to  the  touch,  and  he  was  bent 
double  in  walking.  I  determined  to  subject  him  to  the  trance  if 
possible,  for  the  follov.-ing  reasons.  As  a  fire  expires  for  want 
of  fuel,  it  seemed  to  me  very  probable  that  inflammation  would 


100  MESMERISED   WATER, 

die  out  during  many  hours  of  absolute  repose  to  the  system,  pain 
and  irritation  being  the  sustaining  causes  of  inflammation.  Re- 
move all  pain  and  sensibility  for  hours,  and  it  is  only  natural  to 
suppose  that  the  circulation  will  return  to  its  usual  channels,  and 
the  disease  be  removed  by  a  natural  curative  effort.  If  the 
repose  be  too  short  to  recruit  the  vital  powers,  the  trance  can  be 
repeated  at  will  when  the  system  has  been  once  aflFected.  I  suc- 
ceeded in  entrancing  him  in  half  an  hour,  and  left  him  sleeping. 
I  then  went  to  the  Charity  Plospital,  and  made  my  first  experi- 
ment, as  above  related,  on  the  woman  Alunga,  with  mesmerised 
water.  Having  completely  succeeded,  I  returned  to  the  Jail 
Hospital,  and  found  that  the  man  Sidissur  had  just  awoke.  He 
bore  pressure  much  better,  and  there  was  no  heat  in  the  part.  I 
gave  him  three  ounces  of  mesmerised  water,  and  in  five  minutes 
he  was  again  in  the  trance. 

June  29th. — Sidissur  awoke  at  nine  o'clock  last  night,  but 
went  to  sleep  again  immediately,  and  slept  all  night ;  the  swell- 
ing has  decreased,  and  I  can  squeeze  the  part  all  over  without 
causing  pain,  and  he  walks  erect,  with  ease.  The  disease  is  sub- 
dued, but  for  the  sake  of  experiment  I  gave  him  another  dose  of 
mesmerised  water,  and  in  three  minutes  he  was  in  the  trance. 

June  30th. — Sidissur  again  slept  till  nine  o'clock  last  night, 
and  had  a  good  night  afterwards.  Dismissed  cured,  at  his  own 
request. 

July  2d. — Nobee,  an  elderly,  worn-out  woman,  has  had 
rheumatism  in  her  back  for  some  months:  she  was  put  into  the 
trance  to-day,  and  on  waking  was  free  of  pain. 

July  3rd. — No  pain.  Gave  her  a  dose  of  mesmerised  water ; 
she  soon  said  that  she  felt  warm  all  over ;  a  general  tremor  fol- 
lowed ;  and  on  being  desired  to  walk  she  complained  of  her  head 
turning,  and  walked  a  little,  with  great  difficulty.  On  returning 
to  bed  she  fell  asleep  immediately,  and  slept  for  two  hours. 

July  29th. — At  the  public  Seance,  already  mentioned,  eight 
men  drank  mesmerised  water  prepared  by  my  assistants,  and 
superintended  by  two  doctors,  and  two  clergymen ;  and  in  spite 
of  the  incessant  tormenting  of  their  visitors,  four  of  them,  to  my 
great  surprise,  became  entranced  and  cataleptic,  and  were  con- 
verted into  somnambulists. 

December  14th. — Jadoo,  a  prisoner,  convalescent  from  cholera, 
is  plagued  with  continual  hiccough — eight  convulsions  in  a  min- 
ute.   To  be  mesmerised :  he  was  subdued  in  fifteen  minutes,  but 


^-i^ 


ILLUSTRATIVE    CASE.  lOI 

there  was  little  change  in  the  hiccough  for  half  an  hour  after- 
wards. He  was  raised  upon  his  feet,  and  a  bandage  soaked  in 
cold  water  wound  around  his  chest,  without  awaking  him,  and 
he  was  allowed  to  sleep  half  an  hour  longer :  still  no  change  for 
the  belter.  I  now  prepared  some  mesmerised  water,  and  awoke 
him ;  he  no  sooner  drank  it  than  he  fell  asleep  again,  and  the  hic- 
cough immediately  stopped,  and  never  returned.  He  slept  for 
three  hours  after  drinking  the  water. 

To  illustrate  the  subject  farther,  as  I  could  do  by  scores  of 
examples,  would  be  intolerably  tedious ;  and  I  hope  it  will  not  be 
for  a  moment  supposed  that  I  mean  to  say  that  such  will  in  gen- 
eral be  the  effects  of  mesmerised  water,  but  only  that  in  persons 
~atready  under  the  mesmeric  influence  such  results  can  be  pro- 
cured :  it  has  been  known  to  affect  the  uncontaminated  system, 
hut  it  is  a  rare  occurrence. 
^  The  means  used  for  dissipating  the  mesmeric  influence,  are 

precisely  those  employed  for  disengaging  the  brain  in  fainting, 
01"  natural  insensibility,  caused  by  a  revulsion  or  stoppage  of  the  /  ^ 
nervous  fluid  by  natural  causes.  They  act,  I  presume,  exactly  j  3 
in   the   same   way,   by   re-determining   the   nervous   rousing  to  ^ 

the  skin  and  the  organs  of  sense;  thereby  rousing  the  brain  from 
its  torpor  of  exhaustion  in  the  case  of  fainting,  or  relieving  it  of 
the  nervous  plethora  which  I  have  suggested  might  be  the  cause 
of  mesmeric  coma. 

Blowing  sharply  in  the  eyes,  rubbing  the  eye-lids,  and  eye-        -r5 

brows,  and  sprinkling  cold  water  in  the  face,  are  the  methods 
for  de-mesmerismg  the   brain,   and    when   locally  applied,   are         ■'-    '' 
"equally  eflBcacious  in  de-catalepsing  rigid  limbs.    Let  an  arm  be  -; 

catalepsed,  short  of  the  most  intense  degree  of  coma,  and  although  -■• 
it  may  require  considerable  force  to  bend  it,  yet  blowing  on  it, 
rubbing  it  gently,  or  lettmg  a  few  drops  of  cold  water  fall  on  it, 
will  generally  relax  the  rigidity  of  the  muscles,  and  cause  the 
arm  to  fall  down  at  the  side,  with  its  flexibility  restored ;  and  it 
looks  to  me  as  if  the  muscles  recovered  their  functions  (just  as  — 
the  activity  of  the  brain  is  renewed)  by  being  relieved  of  the 
nervous  secretions  that  have  deserted  the  surface,  and  become 
concentrated  on  the  sensorium  and  muscular  system. 

The  smallness  of  the  cause,  and  the  greatness  of  the  result, 
when  we  restore  a  person  to  the  complete  possession  of  his 
senses,  and  intellect,  by  sprinkling  water  in  his  eyes  when  in  the 
mesmeric  coma,  are  quite  as  remarkable  in  natural  fainting,  in 


102  MODE   OF  DE-MESMERTSING. 

wiiich  the  effects  are  often  equally  striking  and  instantaneous  l 
and  I  leave  it  to  the  reader  to  determine  whether  the  exhaustion 
of  the  nervous  system  in  natural  coma,  and  its  presumed  reple- 
tion in  the  mesmeric  state,  does  not  assist  us  in  understanding 
the  similarities  and  differences  observed  in  natural,  and  mes- 
meric sleep. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Mesmerism  as  a  Remedy.— Coma  as  a  Medical  Agent.— Journal 
of  Practical  Mesmerism.— Chronic  Inflamination  of  Eye 
cured.— Nervous  Headache  ditto.— Acute  Iniiammaiioyi  of 
Eye  'ditto.— Return  of  Nervous  Headache  prevented.— Rev. 
Mr.  Fisher's  Report.— How  to  make  a  Convert. — Tooth 
drawn  in  the  Trance.— Convulsions  cured  by  ditto.— Arms 
straightened  in  ditto. — Sense  of  Formication  removed.— Lum- 
bago, Sciatica,  Pain  in  Crural  Nerve,  cured.— Palsy  of  an 
Arm  ditto.— Hemiplegia  greatly  benefitted.— Tic  cured.- 
Rheumatism  ditto.— Mesmerism  as  a  Disease.— Resembles 
Hysteria.— Ignorant  Charges  of  Imposture.— The  Public 
abused.— The  Public  disabused.— Folly  and  Unfairness  of  its 
would-be  Guides.— Spontaneous  Development  of  the  Mes- 
meric Disease.— Mesmerising  by  doing  nothing  taught  by  the 
Mesmerists  themsehcs.—A  natural  Consequence  of  frequent 
Mesmerising.— Examples  of  Mesmerising  by  doing  nothing. 
—Hysteric  Theory.— Hope  to  hear  of  Hysteria  as  a  Remedy 
soon.— Rational  Mode  of  studying  Mesmerism. 

For  practical  purposes,  the  physical  effects  of  Mesmerism 
may  be  divided  into  simple  somnolence,  semi-insensibility,  and 
total  insensibility,  or  coma:  of  the  first,  nothing  more  need  be 
said,  and  abundant  examples  of  the  others  will  be  given  m  my 
"Journal  of  Practical  Mesmerism." 

Althoui^h  accepting  thankfully  whatever  nature  deigned^  to 
offer  in  an^swer  to  my  inquiries,  in  the  various  cases  in  which  I 
consulted  her ;  yet  they  were  not  presented  to  the  vis  medicatrix 
naturcB,  at  haphazard,  and  without  selection.  Uy  first  case  was 
indeed  a  "pomegranate  full  of  many  kernels,"  and  offered  so 
many  facts  from  which  great  practical  deductions  could  be  drawn, 
that' I  only  followed  out  the  indications  of  nature  in  all  my  sub- 
sequent proceedings ;  so  that  my  operations  have  not  been  "A 
mighty  maze,  and  all  without  a  plan." 

I.  I  was  certain  (if  life  is  not  a  phantasmagoria)  that  in 
the  mesmeric  trance,  the  muscles  of  the  whole  body  had  been  as 
plastic,  and  obedient  to  my  command,  as  clay  in  the  hands  of  the 
potter ;  and  I  felt  satisfied  that  if  the  same  state  of  things  could 

103 


104  MESMERISM   AS   A   REMEDY. 

be  brought  about,  muscular  spasms  and  contractions  would  dis- 
appear before  this  great  solvent.  The  straightening  of  limbs, 
long  contracted,  very  soon  verified  this  inference. 

II.  Having,  in  this  case,  witnessed  the  total  extinction  of 
nervous  irritability,  I  was  led  to  conclude,  that  in  a  like  state  of 
things,  nervous  pains  would  vanish  before  this  supreme  anodyne. 
The  cure  of  nervous  headaches  immediately  demonstrated  the 
truth  of  this  idea. 

III.  The  insensibility  to  pain  convinced  me  that  the  most 
painful  surgical  operations  might  be  performed  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  patient,  and  this  has  been  done  to  an  extraor- 
dinary extent,  so  much  so,  as  to  be  a  daily  matter  of  course. 

IV.  I  had  seen  high  local  inflammation,  and  sympathetic 
fever  suspended  during  the  trance  in  my  first  patient,  and  that 
the  artificial  inflammation  (which  it  was  my  object  to  excite,  for 
the  cure  of  hydrocele,)  did  not  develop  itself,  while  the  mesmeric 
influence  was  in  activity,  and  that  the  pulse  and  temperature  had 
become  natural :  thence  I  inferred,  that  inflammation  was  prob- 
ably incompatible  with  such  a  state  of  the  constitution,  and  I 
soon  succeeded  in  curing  acute  inflammation  of  the  eye  and 
testis,  by  no  other  means  than  the  mesmeric  trance. 

As  regards  the  certainty  of  my  conclusions,  it  required  no 
great  sagacity  to  believe  the  evidence  of  my  senses,  and  to  go 
and  do  as  nature  bid  me.  A  fact  in  nature  being  once  ascer- 
tained, and  all  its  accessories  carefully  observed,  we  may  be  con- 
fident of  re-producing  it,  at  will,  by  fulfilling  the  necessary  condi- 
tions, if  the  phenomenon  is  under  human  control.  I  therefore 
tried  to  bring  about  the  same  condition  of  body,  by  the  means 
re;juired  to  be  used  by  nature,  before  she  will  condescend  to  in- 
terfere in  our  favour,  feeling  convinced  that  if  she  did  interfere, 
it  would  be  with  unerring  wisdom,  and  unapproachable  skill ;  and 
that  what  had  been  feebly  begun  by  her  weak,  but  obedient 
creature,  would  be  triumphantly  completed  by  her  laws,  when 
brought  into  action ;  the  way  for  them  being  merely  prepared, 
in  the  manner  pointed  out  by  experience. 

"Nature  is  but  a  name  for  an  effect,  whose  cause  is  God  ;"  and 
the  Author  of  nature  has  ordained,  that  such  effects  should  often 
follow  such  predisposing  causes. 

Mesmeric  coma  will  in  the  following  pages  chiefly  figure  in 
surgical  operations,  and  is  not  so  often  required  in  the  treatment 
of  medical  cases ;  but  when  it  can  be  induced,  it  is  extremely 
important   in    instantly  extinguishing   nervous   pains,    arresting 


COMA  A  REMEDIAL  AGENT.  10$ 

convulsions,  and  aiding  the  natural  resolution  of  inflammation, 
by  its  anodyne  and  restorative  powers ;  and  if  it  could  be  in- 
duced in  the  commencement  of  some  of  the  most  fatal  diseases, 
it  would  probably  arrest  their  progress,  for  it  revolutionises  the 
whole  system,  and  every  other  constitutional  afiection  is  for  the 
time  suspended. 

In  chronic  inflammation  it  is  a  useful  discutient,  gently  stimu- 
lating the  nerves,  and  capillary  vessels  of  the  part,  to  more 
healthy  action ;  and  for  this  purpose,  local  Mesmerism  is  only 
required. 

The  chronic  exhibition  of  Mesmerism  as  a  general  tonic,  in 
diseases  of  debility  promises  to  be  of  great  service,  especially  in 
functional  derangement  of  the  nervous  system  and  I  am  hopeful 
that  we  have  at  last  got  a  direct  nervous  remedy,  hitherto,  a 
"desideratum"  in  medicine. 

In  palsy  from  weakness  of  the  nerves,  it  promises  to  assist  us 
greatly,  and  Dr.  Elliotson  has  recorded  many  cures  of  cases  he 
could  not  have  managed  before.  All  who  venture  to  confess  the 
truth  to  themselves,  know  how  miserably  impotent  for  the  cure  of 
palsy,  and  nervous  diseases  generally,  are  the  medical  means 
hitherto  employed.  If  we  succeed,  we  often  cannot  tell  why, 
and  the  connection  of  cause  and  effect  is  very  uncertain.  But  in 
the  chronic  treatment  of  palsy,  by  Mesmerism  alone,  the  patient 
often  feels  and  shows  early  and  continued  improvement  under 
the  action  of  this  natural  remedy ;  and  we  cannot  refuse  to  be- 
lieve that  it  is  the  exciting  cause :  we  must  believe  that  it  is,  or 
own  that  it  is  a  spontaneous  cure  of  a  commonly  incurable  dis- 
ease !  But  both  the  practitioner  and  the  patient  must  remember; 
that  Mesmerism  is  no  exception  to  the  general  rule,  that  a 
chronic  disease  must  have  a  chronic  cure :  much  patience  and 
labour  will  be  required  in  the  mesmeric  treatment  of  paralytic 
affections,  and  the  result  will  greatly  depend  upon  whether  the 
disease  is  one  of  debility  or  over-excitement  of  the  nervous  sys- 
tem. In  the  latter  case,  I  should  think,  that  unless  the  sedative 
effects  on  the  system  could  be  induced,  we  should  be  disap- 
pointed ;  in  the  former,  every  degree  of  the  influence  would 
probably  be  of  service. 

We  find  in  practice,  that  nervous  persons,  from  over-excite- 
ment of  the  nerves,  are  with  great  difficulty  subdued,  and  appear 
to  be  still  farther  irritated  by  subjecting  them  to  the  mesmeric 
process ;  whereas  those  who  suffer  from  irritability  of  the  nerves 
from  weakness,  are  easily  affected,  and  soon  benefitted  by  it. 


I06  EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL 

The  medical  cases  adapted  for  the  use  of  Mesmerism,  do  not 
occur  in  my  practice  among  the  poor  so  often  as  surgical  cases, 
as  the  labouring  poor  do  not  usually  resort  to  medical  advice  for 
nervous  diseases,  till  they  are  past  cure:  I  can  however  present 
the  reader  with  some  interesting  cases,  which  I  will  extract,  as 
they  occurred  from  my 

JOURNAL   OF   PRACTICAL   MESMERISM. 

"May  7th. — Nazir,  a  Mussulman ;  aged  20 :  is  suffering  from 
the  sequela:  of  ophthalmia  of  two  months'  standing ;  the  sight  of 
the  left  eye  is  destroyed.  The  cornea  of  the  right  eye  is  muddy 
with  superficial  ulcerations,  and  a  pterygium  is  forming;  there 
is  constant  lacrymation,  and  he  cannot  distinguish  a  white  man 
from  a  black.  I  placed  him  in  a  chair  before  me,  and  directed 
the  operation  to  the  eyes  and  head  generally,  desiring 
him  to  mention  wdiat  he  felt  as  we  proceeded.  He  soon  said, 
that  he  felt  an  agreeable  warmth  where  my  fingers  passed  with- 
out touching  him ;  shortly  after,  he  said  his  eyes  were  easier,  and 
on  extending  the  process  to  the  body,  he  felt  a  general  warmth 
pervade  it,  and  sweat  stood  in  drops  on  his  face.  He  next  said, 
that  he  felt  a  fear  come  over  him  that  he  could  not  account  for, 
and  desired  greatly  to  sleep:  having  no  desire  to  go  farther,  I 
here  stopped : — the  eyes  to  be  mesmerised  daily  for  ten  minutes, 
and  then  be  put  to  sleep." 

"May  22d. — Has  been  mesmerised  daily,  and  put  to  sleep 
twice :  he  always  feels  better  after  the  process ;  says  that  his 
body  feels  pleasant  and  light,  and  the  expression  of  his  counte- 
nance is  much  improved.  The  lacrymation  has  ceased,  and  he 
read  two  words  in  Bengalee  and  Persian  to-day;  the  pterygium 
will  be  the  only  impediment  to  his  sight. 

''May  22d. — Keenoo,  a  prisoner;  saw  him  for  the  first  time 
to-day,  at  II  o'clock.  He  has  had  a  severe  pain  extending  from 
the  left  eye-brow  to  one  half  of  his  head  for  four  days ;  and 
there  is  pain  on  pressing  at  the  supra-orbitor  notch.  I  made  him 
lie  down,  in  a  small  room  oflf  the  hospital,  and  in  twenty  minutes 
left  him  asleep  with  one  arm  raised  perpendicularly  in  the  air, 
and  locking  the  door,  I  left  him  alone. 

"I  returned  at  l  o'clock,  and  on  opening  the  door,  found  him 
lying  exactly  as  I  had  left  him  with  his  arm  still  in  the  air:  he 
awoke  whilst  I  was  looking  at  him,  and  said  that  he  had  not  been 
asleep.  On  being  asked  why  his  arm  was  in  the  air,  he  could 
give  no  reason  for  it.    So  sensible  is  the  approach  of  sleep  under 


OF  PRACTICAL  MESMERISM.  IO7 

thi?  grand  narcotic,  or  so  sudden  its  invasion,  that  in  the  minds 
of  the  sleepers  often  no  trace  remains  of  the  circum.stances  at- 
tending their  sleep !  This  was  seen  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Clermont. 
He  awoke  perfectly  free  from  headache. 

"May  24th.— No  return  of  pain— discharged  cured. 
"May  24th. — Nazir  Mahomed,  a  prisoner;  saw  him  for  the 
first  time  to-day,  at  ii  o'clock.  For  the  last  four  days,  he  has 
laboured  under' acute  inflammation  of  the  conjunctiva:  the  con- 
junctival vessels  form  a  raised  zone  around  the  cornea ;  there  is 
a  constant  lacrymation,  pain  over  half  the  head,  and  he  cannot 
distinguish  objects. 

"I  made  him  lie  down  on  the  floor,  and  rendered  him  catalep- 
tic in  twenty  minutes ;  then  putting  his  hands,  clasped,  above  his 
head,  I  locked  the  door,  and  took  the  key  with  me  to  Chinsurah, 
two  miles  off,  where   I   found  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  and   Mr. 
Money,  the  collector,  who  are  much  interested  in  my  proceed- 
ings, and  daily  ask,  'What  progress?'     I  answered,  that  a  man 
entranced  was  waiting  my  return ;  and  they  ofifered  to  go  back 
with  me.     On  opening  the  door  we  found  the  man  had  just 
awoke;  and  being  asked  in  what  attitude  he  found  himself  on 
waking,  he  said  that  his  hands  were  clasped  over  his  head :  he 
reports  the  pain  to  have  quite  left  the  side  of  his  head ;  only  a 
little  remains  about  the  eye ;  the  eyelids  move  much  more  freely, 
and  the  watering  is  less ;  his  general  feelings  are  much  improved : 
before  the  sleep  he  felt  his  body  hot  and  heavy,  and  it  is  now 
cool  and  light.     Cold  water  to  the  head  and  eyes ;  a  dose  of 
physic.     When  we  were  leaving  the  hospital  the  native  doctor 
reported  that  a  man  had  just  come  in  with  a  pain  in  one  side  of 
his  head,  like  the  man  cured  on  the  23rd.     I  desired  him  to  be 
brought  before  us,  and  he  stated  that  for  the  last  six  days  he  had 
suffered   from  an  acute  intermittent  headache,  confined  to  one 
side  of  his  head ;  that  it  commences  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning 
and  continues  till  12  p.  m.     Turning  to  my  friends,  I  observea 
that  if  they  would  wait  I  should  like  to  entrance  this  man,  as  a 
preventive.'    They  consented  to  do  so,  and  Mr.  Fisher  has  been 
good  enough  to  send  me  his  notes  of  what  followed  :— 

"Mr.  Fisher's  Report. 

"On  Saturday  last,  the  24th  inst.,  I  visited  the  Jail  Hospital, 
in  companv  with  Dr.  Esdaile.  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  a  pris- 
oner awakened  out  of  the  mesmeric  trance,  who  had  been  suffer- 
ing for  some  time  with  an  inflamed  eye.    Upon  our  arrival  the 


loS  EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL 

man  was  awake,  and  no  further  experiment  could  therefore  be 
tried  with  this  patient.  Another,  however,  immediately  pre- 
sented himself,  who  had  never  been  subjected  to  the  mesmeric 
influence  before,  and  whom,  I  believe,  the  doctor  had  never  seen. 
He  had  been  suffering  much  for  some  days  from  severe  pains 
in  the  head  and  face;  though  not  at  that  moment  in  pain,  it  was 
thought  advisable  to  try  the  effects  of  Mesmerism  as  a  preventive. 
The  manipulations  were  immediately  commenced,  and  in  seven 
minutes  the  man  was  in  a  cataleptic  state.  We  tried  various 
means  to  test  the  intensity  of  the  trance :  his  limbs  rigidly  main- 
tained themselves  in  any  posture  in  which  Dr.  Esdaile  chose  tQ 
place  them;  and  at  last  he  was  raised  upon  his  feet;  his  back 
being  slightly  bent,  his  arms  stretched  over  head,  which  was 
drooping  upon  his  shoulder,  and  he  remained  fixed  in  this  con- 
strained position  for  some  time,  without  exhibiting  any  symp- 
toms of  consciousness,  or  uneasiness.  After  a  few  minutes  he 
was  left  to  his  deep  repose,  reclined  upon  the  ground ;  and  I 
understand  that,  since  this  first  trial,  he  has  never  had  the  slight- 
est return  of  the  pains  of  which  he  previously  complained :  we 
were  much  astonished  at  the  phenomena  exhibited  on  this  occa- 
sion ;  the  limbs  being  so  extraordinarily  supple,  and  at  the  same 
time  capable  of  being  so  rigidly  fixed  in  any  position,  at  the  will 
of  the  operator.  (Signed)   F.  Fisher.'' 

"Chinsurah,  May  2gtJi,  1845." 

May  25th. — Nazir  Mahom.ed,  entranced  yesterday  for  con- 
junctivitis, has  slept  well  all  night.  There  is  no  pain  in  the 
head;  very  slight  uneasiness  about  the  eye:  no  watering.  The 
zone  of  blood-vessels  around  the  cornea  is  gone,  and  the  inflam- 
mation is  reduced  from  the  vivid  redness  of  the  acute  stage  to 
the  dull,  brick-red  colour  of  the  chronic  state.  He  can  now  see 
very  well  with  the  inflamed  eye. 

I  put  him  on  a  high  stool  before  me,  and  desired  him  to  tell 
me  when  he  became  sleepy,  but  he  had  not  time  to  do  so,  as  I 
left  him  sitting  entranced  in  five  minutes :  this  was  done  with  the 
idea  of  lessening  the  determination  of  blood  to  the  head.  I  then 
proceeded  to  my  usual  business  in  Chinsurah,  and  was  there  in- 
troduced to  Mr.  M'Questen,  the  dentist,  who  was  on  a  profes- 
sional visit  at  the  house  of  one  of  my  patients.  As  he  expressed 
a  great  desire  to  see  some  of  my  Mesmeric  cases,  I  saitl  that  he 
had  better  take  the  present  opportunity,  as  I  had  left  a  man 
entranced,  and  hoped  to  find  him  so  on  my  return,  and  that  others 


OF  PRACTICAL  MESMERISM.  IO9 

were  undergoing  the  process  at  the  Charity  Hospital,  but  I  knew 
not  with  what  results. 

The  lady  and  gentleman  of  the  house,  hereupon,  suddenly 
resolved  to  go,  too;  and  the  expedition  gave  rise  to  a  little  epi- 
sode, which  I  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  here,  by  permis- 
sion. 

We  returned  to  the  Jail  Hospital,  after  I  had  been  absent  an 
hour,  and  found  the  man  sitting  precisely  as  I  had  left  him,  and 
his  body  colder  than  natural.  The  influence  was  now  nearly 
worn  out  (partly,  no  doubt,  by  the  exhausting  position,)  and  he 
awoke  soon  after  our  arrival.  He  said  that  the  eye  was  still 
farther  improved,  and  it  looked  so.  I  consider  the  case  terminated. 
It  was  evident,  to  the  most  unpractised  eye,  that  inflammation 
Vv'as  incompatible  v.'ith  such  a  state  of  the  system. 

But  a  man  sitting  on  a  high  stool  for  an  hour  without  know- 
ing it,  was  not  enough  to  satisfy  the  curiosity  and  unbelief  of 
my  lady  visitor.  Her  theory  was,  that  I  must  be  "Angelus  ant 
Diabohis,"  to  be  permitted  to  do  such  things ;  and  as  both 
hypothesis  had  their  difficulties,  she  took  refuge  in  an  unap- 
proachable unbelief.  This  to  me  was  a  singular  mental  phenom- 
enon, and  I  determined  to  experiment  upon  her  mind  through 
her  own  senses  (as  she  would  not  believe  her  husband  even,) 
and  to  observe  the  effects.  The  man  entranced  for  hemicrania 
yesterday  was  sent  for,  and  put  upon  the  stool.  The  gentlemen 
pulled  out  their  watches,  and  in  three  minutes  he  was  as  insensi- 
ble to  life  as  the  stool  on  which  he  sat.  He  was  now  put  through 
all  the  amazing  postures  already  described,  and  his  friends  were 
called  in  to  awake  him,  but  all  to  no  purpose,  till  I  came  to  their 
aid,  when  he  awoke  with  a  violent  start,  and  look  of  alarm ;  and, 
on  being  questioned,  said  that  he  had  gone  to  sleep  of  his  own 
accord. 

My  honoured  visitor  had  now  evidently  some  difficulty  in 
collecting  her  senses,  and  kept  exclaiming, — "It's  impossible! 
it  can't  be!  I  won't  believe  it;  it's  all  a  trick!"  I  replied,  "If  you 
will  be  good  enough  to  go  to  the  other  hospital,  I  shall,  perhaps, 
be  able  to  show  you  more  tricks  of  the  same  kind." 

Having  entered  the  "Blue  Chamber,"  she  was  resolved  to 
see  its  mysteries,  and  the  party  proceeded.  I  had  ordered  a  man 
to  be  mesmerised  in  the  morning,  to  have  a  tooth  taken  out ; 
and,  on  reaching  the  Charity  Hospital,  had  the  satisfaction  to 
find  him  entranced,  and  begged  Mr.  Mc'Qucsten  to  give  him  the 
benefit  of  his  skill.    This  he  declined;  and  I  extracted  the  tooth 


no  EXTRACTS   FROM   JOURNAL 

before  him,  without  awaking  L!:e  man,  and  presented  it  to  the 
lady  as  a  mesmeric  "souvenir."  Seeing  a  collection  of  matter 
near  the  ear,  I  also  made  an  incision  into  the  swelling  before  he 
awoke.  On  coming  to  his  senses  he  said  that  he  felt  as  if  an  ant 
had  bit  him  while  he  was  asleep. 

I  had  now  the  gratification,  rarely  granted  to  first  believers, — 
of  living  to  see  the  triumph  of  the  truth.  My  fair  infidel  frankly 
gave  up  the  "diabolic  theory;"  and  although  she  could  not  yet 
adopt  the  angelic  one  in  my  favour,  yet  she  was  convinced  that, 
instead  of  being  in  league  with  the  evil  power,  I  was  a  highly 
favoured  individual,  and  congratulated  me  on  my  new  powers 
of  doing  good.  At  parting  I  took  the  liberty  to  hint,  in  the  most 
respectful  manner,  that  there  was  something  still  more  wonder- 
ful to  me  than  Mesmerism ;  and  that  was,  the  extent  of  human 
incredulity  on  the  subject. 

June  6th. — I  was  called  at  8  o'clock  last  night,  to  see  the  wife 
of  Baboo  Essanchunder  Ghosaul,  deputy-magistrate  of  Hooghly. 
I  found  her  in  dreadful  convulsions ;  she  was  speechless,  and 
suffering  from  a  constriction  in  the  throat,  that  threatened  to 
suffocate  her  every  minute ;  and  she  constantly  beat,  or  pointed 
at  the  part.  At  one  moment  her  body  was  perfectly  rigid,  and 
in  another  it  was  bent  back  like  a  bow,  till  she  rested  on  the  back 
of  her  head  and  heels  only.  I  never  saw  such  convulsions  except 
in  Tetanus  and  Hydrophobia,  and  all  I  knew  of  the  resources  of 
medicine  was  useless ;  for  how  could  she  take  physic  when  she 
could  not  take  breath !  I  therefore  had  recourse  to  my  new  solvent 
power,  and,  after  nearly  an  hour's  hard  work,  I  left  her  asleep, 
and  catalepsed.' 

July  1st. — She  has  had  no  return  of  the  fit.  This  is  the  lady 
for  whose  relief  the  conjurer  was  sent,  but  came  too  late. 

June  26th. — Alunga,  aged  24;  she  has  slight  contractions  of 
both  elbow-joints,  from  rheumatism,  with  acute  pain  on  press- 
ing the  ulnar  nerve  at  the  elbow.  At  first,  she  did  not  bear  much 
handling  without  awaking;  but,  on  being  left  alone,  the  trance 
deepened,  and  she  permitted  me  to  work  her  joints  like  door 
hinges,  and  extend  them  to  the  natural  degree,  w^ithout  awaking. 
One  arm  was  much  freer  after  the  first  trance  and  extension,  and 
there  was  no  pain. 

June  27th. — Complains  of  considerable  pain  in  her  left  arm 
to-day,  and  the  nerve  at  the  elbow  is  very  tender.  I  passed  my 
fingers  along  the  course  of  the  nerve  for  a  few  minutes,  which 
removed  the  pain,  and  allowed  her  to  extend  the  arm :  I  then 


OF  PRACTICAL  MESMERISM.  Ill 

hold  my  fingers  before  her  eyes  for  a  few  seconds,  and  she  fell 
into  my  arms  insensible. 

July  3rd.— This  woman's  pains  fly  about,  but  I  can  chase 
them  away  from  any  part  by  holding  my  fingers  over  it  for  a 
short  time.  She  came  limping  up  to  me  to-day,  to  have  the  pain 
taken  out  of  her  "tendo  Achillis ;"  and  this  I  did  by  passing  my 
fingers  over  the  pained  part.  I  then  grasped  it  firmly :  she  felt  no 
pain,  and  by  words  and  looks  expressed  the  utmost  astonishment 
and  delight.  This  woman's  sensibility  is  such,  that  I,  or  any  one, 
can  now  make  her  delirious  by  merely  looking  at  her  for  five 
minutes ;  but  more  of  this  hereafter. 

Aug.  i8th.— I  requested  Dr.  Bedford  to  satisfy  himself  if 
the  woman  Alunga  had  pain  in  any  part  of  her  body.  On  being 
asked,  she  said  there  was  acute  pain  in  one  heel ;  and  Dr.  B.  spent 
a  long  time  in  testing  the  reality  of  its  existence.  He  at  last  said 
that  he  was  convinced  there  was  considerable  pain  in  that  spot. 
I  then  passed  my  fingers  over  the  part  for  a  minute,  and  grasped 
the  heel  as  firmly  as  I  could,  and  she  declared  the  pain  had  van- 
ished ;  and  Dr.  B.  allowed  that  it  had.  He  then  looked  at  her 
steadily,  and  in  a  few  minutes  developed  the  mesmeric  delirium, 
and  desire  to  sleep-walk,  always  produced  in  this  woman,  if  the 
influence  is  not  quickly  concentrated  upon  her :  the  other  symp- 
toms, tremor  of  the  eyelids,  inability  to  open  them  when  closed, 
and  the  mesmeric  trance,  all  followed  in  due  course. 

July  4th.— Dookee,  a  shop-keeper.  For  several  months  has 
had  a  constant  feeling  of  insects  crawling  about  his  face  and 
scalp,  and  it  often  extends  to  the  whole  body ;  his  eyes  wink  and 
water  constantlv.  He  was  mesmerised  for  an  hour,  and  then 
got  a  dose  of  mesmerised  water.  He  soon  after  complained  of 
general  agitation,  and  feeling  of  alarm  at  the  heart,  and  then 
slept  a  little.  On  leaving  the  hospital  the  sense  of  formication 
had  entirely  disappeared,  and  he  did  not  wink  more  than  was 
natural :  he  has  not  returned.  ^ 

July  13th.— Four  men  and  one  woman  were  entranced  to-aay. 

No.  I.  for  Lumbago. 

No.  2,  for  Sciatica. 

No.  3.  for  pain  in  the  course  of  the  crural  nerve. 

No.  4.  for  Syphilitic  rheumatism. 

No.  5.  ditto. 

They  were  all  subdued  by  the  usual  manipulations,  assisted  b>' 

the  breath. 

After  the  first  day  the  trance  was  induced  m  them  all,  by 


112  EXTRACTS   FROM   JOURNAL 

giving  mesmerised  water  daily,  till  the  17th :  on  which  day  the 
three  with  neuralgic  pains  were  dismissed  cured ;  the  syphilitic 
cases  were  not  benefitted,  as  might  be  expected,  the  constitu- 
tional specific  disease  being  still  in  operation:  the  local  pains 
were  eased,  however,  and  sleep  procured:  no  small  matter  in 
such  cases. 

July  29th. — Sustee  Ram,  a  bearer ;  aged  30.  He  became  par- 
alytic in  his  left  arm,  twelve  days  ago,  during  the  night :  he 
cannot  raise  it  higher  than  his  navel ;  there  is  pain  under  the 
capula ;  and  he  has  slept  very  little  since  the  attack : — to  be  mes- 
merised daily,  for  half-an-hour. 

July  30th. — Slept  all  night,  can  raise  his  arm  to  his  breast, 
head,  spine,  shoulder,  and  arm : — to  be  mesmerised  daily. 

July  31st. — Slept  yesterday,  immediately  after  being  mes- 
merised, and  all  night:  can  touch  the  opposite  shoulder  and  his 
forehead  to-day. 

Aug.  15th. — Has  improved  daily:  usually  sleeps  after  the 
process,  and  well  at  night. 

Aug.  25th. — Can  hold  his  arm  perpendicular,  and  has  con- 
siderable command  over  it. 

Sept.  8th. — Can  clap  his  hands  above  his  head,  strikes  out 
well  with  the  left  arm,  and  squeezes  my  hand  with  considerable 
force.     Discharged  at  his  own  request,  being  fit  for  work. 

The  next  case  I  should  never  have  taken  in  hand,  if  new 
hopes  had  not  been  infused  into  me  by  the  evident  effects  of 
Mesmerism  on  the  nervous  system. 

Aug.  9th. — Geeois,  a  husbandman ;  aged  22.  A  man  of  large 
frame,  and  in  good  condition.  There  is  complete  palsy  of  the 
whole  of  the  left  side ;  the  arm  can  only  be  separated  from  the 
side  for  a  few  inches.  He  has  taken  mercury  six  times,  in  four 
years,  for  rheumatism:  the  paralysis  began  four  months  ago, 
and  he  has  been  three  months  in  his  present  state : — to  be  mes- 
merised for  half  an  hour  daily. 

Aug.  1 8th. — He  sometimes  goes  to  sleep  during  the  process, 
and  generally  sleeps  for  two  hours  after  it :  he  can  raise  his  arm 
more,  and  there  is  a  little  resistance  on  the  left  side,  on  walking 
between  two  persons. 

Aug.  20th. — He  began  to  walk  a  little  with  a  stick  to-day. 

Aug.  25th. — Improves  daily ;  there  is  more  command  over 
the  diseased  side;  the  leg  is  stronger,  and  he  raises  the  arm 
higher:  he  walked  to  the  end  of  the  room  to-day,  with  the  help 
of  a  stick  only. 


OF  PRACTICAL   MCSMICKISM.  'II3 

Sept.  8th. — Mucli  better ;  walks  across  the  compound,  with 
the  aid  of  a  stick ;  arm  also  improving. 

Sept.  20th. — He  has  discarded  his  stick,  and  crosses  the  com- 
pound unaided. 

Sept.  25th. — Daily  improving ;  he  can  hold  his  arm  nearly 
perpendicular :  there  is  every  prospect  of  his  recovering,  and  he 
was  allowed  to  go  home,  with  orders  to  his  friends  to  mesmerise 
him  daily,  in  the  way  they  had  witnessed. 

Dec.  loth. — Horo,  a  Hindoo  woman ;  aged  28.  She  has 
suffered  for  three  years  from  tic-dolourcux  in  the  right  eyebrow 
and  temple,  especially  in  the  cold  weather :  it  is  very  intense  now, 
and  comes  on  at  6  a.  m.,  remaining  till  2  p.  m. — to  be  mesmerised, 
I  returned  after  an  hour,  and  found  her  asleep :  she  awoke  soon 
after,  and  said  there  was  no  pain  whatever  in  the  part  now,  and 
that  "it  was  cold  as  water." 

Jan.  8th. — She  has  Jiad  no  return  of  pain. 

Dec.  14th. — Podo,  a  Hindoo  woman,  a  beggar ;  aged  40.  She 
has  been  a  cripple  for  a  year  and  a  half,  from  rheumatism  in  her 
shoulders  and  knees:  there  is  much  tenderness  about  the  joints, 
and  her  knees  are  so  weak  that  she  cannot  sit  with  her  hams 
bent,  and  is  obliged  to  ease  herself  standing,  and  she  cannot  rise 
from  the  ground  without  pushing  herself  up  with  her  hands : — 
to  be  mesmerised  an  hour  daily. 

Dec.  i6th. — Slept  half  an  hour  after  the  process  to-day. 

Dec.  17th. — Feels  much  better. 

Dec.  i8th. — Slept  an  hour  to-day;  the  pain  about  the  joints 
is  much  less ;  she  can  rise  from  the  ground  without  aid,  and 
walks  much  more  freely. 

Dec.  19th. — Says  she  has  no  pain,  and  is  quite  well :  dismissed 
cured,  at  her  own  request. 


Mesmerism,  like  other  powerful  natural  agents,  is  not  only  a 
remedy,  but  becomies  a  formidable  disease  when  pushed  far,  and 
deeply  rooted  in  the  constitution ;  and  a  knowledge  of  this  is  the 
key  to  a  variety  of  anomalous  phenomena, — mesmeric  in  their 
origin,  but  not  directly  produced  by  it  at  the  time,  and  which 
give  rise  to  absurd  charges  of  imposture,  delusion,  &c.,  from 
persons  totally  ignorant  of  the  subject.  These  are,  in  fact,  the 
secondary  or  constitutional  symptoms  of  the  primary  disease — 
Mesmerism, — which  has  contaminated  the  nervous  system,  and 
predisposed  it  to  take  on  the  Mesmeric  action  whenever  it  is 


114  REMARKS   ON    MESMERISM.    . 

deranged,  especially  by  any  thing  having  reference  to  the  pro- 
cesses by  which  it  was  first  developed  in  the  system. 

In  this  respect,  Mesmerism  very  closely  resembles  Hysteria, 
which,  however  primarily  induced,  is  apt  to  recur  on  any  agita- 
tion of  the  body  or  mind,  more  particularly  if  it  is  in  any  way 
associated  with  the  first  disturbing  cause;  and  they  both  corre- 
spond, in  each  being  sometimes  voluntarily  producible.  Every 
one  knows  how  a  genuine  fit  of  hysterics  can  be  willed  on,  and 
that  often  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  reality  of  the  exhibition ; 
and,  in  like  manner,  some  persons  can  will  on  somnambulism  and 
the  other  Mesmeric  symptoms,  the  reality  of  which  are  indis- 
putable. To  an  experienced  person,  the  springing  up  of  true 
Mesm<eric  phenomena,  without  the  usual  exciting  cause,  is  a 
moral  demonstration  that  the  system  has  been  previously  revo- 
lutionized by  Mesmerism.  The  nervous  centres  having  become 
morbidly  sensitive  by  the  action  of  this  great  nervous  excitant, 
every  shock  of  the  nerves,  especially  if  connected  with  Mesmer- 
ism, is  exhibited  in  the  shape  of  abnormal  mesmeric  symptoms. 

The  eye  of  the  hunter  can  tell  by  the  foot-prints  the  kind  of 
animal  that  has  gone  before :  from  the  shadow  we  can  guess  the 
semlDlance  of  the  substance;  and,  in  like  manner,  the  qualified 
observer,  when  he  sees  pseudo-mesmeric  appearances,  at  once 
says,  the  Mesmerist  has  been  here  before  me — ex  pede  Herculem. 

It  is  high  time  that  the  public  should  be  disabused  of  many 
erroneous  impressions  regarding  the  finer  phenomena  of  Mes- 
merism, which  have  been  sedulously  propagated  by  medical  men 
even,  affectedly  impartial,  but,  in  reality,  labouring  under  intense 
prejudice,  and  profound  ignorance  of  the  subject. 

It  is  of  no  consequence  to  the  community  whether  it  is  misled 
by  the  ignorance  or  dishonesty  of  those  who  set  themselves  up 
as  leaders  of  public  opinion ;  the  ofifence  against  truth,  the  injury 
done  to  the  public,  and  the  injustice  to  those  who  have  practically 
studied  the  question,  and  declared  what  they  know  to  be  true, 
careless  whom  it  may  displease,  are  equally  great.  It  is  a  com- 
mon thing  for  Doctors,  who  have  never  seen  or  thought  of  Mes- 
merism, to  step  forward  to  enlighten  the  public,  and  expose  the 
"humbug."  They  have  heard  of  "Mesmeric  coma,"  and  that, 
under  its  influence,  the  most  severe  surgical  operations  can  be 
performed  without  pain ;  and  they  thereupon  exact  total  insejisi- 
bility  into  their  experimentuni  cruets  of  the  truth  of  Mesmerism ; 
and  if  any  unfortunate  Mesmeric  wight,  having  a  vulnerable 
point  in  his  "tendo  Achillis"  even,  should  fall  under  their  ob- 


REMARKS  0^3■    MESMERISM.  II5 

servation,  he  is  denounced  as  a  hardened  and  determined  irri- 
postor,  and  his  physician  exposed  as  a  quack,  or  charitably  al- 
lowed to  be,  perhaps,  only  a  fool. 

Nothing  short  of  the  extinction  of  life  will  satisfy  these  dis- 
criminating observers :  physiological  revolutions  in  the  system — 
altered  bearing — changed  expression  in  features  and  voice — 
the  approach  and  advance  of  sleep — the  extinction  of  some 
senses — and  the  preservation  or  exaltation  of  others,  are  all  not 
only  lost  upon  such  philosophers,  but  are,  one  and  all,  "con- 
firmations, strong  as  Holy  Writ,"  of  the  existence  of  imposture  I 
Such  is  the  procrustean  bed  to  which  the  anti-mesmerists  bind 
down  Nature  in  this  most  varied  and  wonderful  display  of  her 
powers.  If  the  body  of  their  venerable  mother  be  longer  than 
her  unnatural  children,  the  Doctors,  wish  it,  they  mercilessly 
amputate  the  offending  members:  if  shorter,  she  is  pulled  and 
stretched  by  pulleys,  sccundem  artem,  to  the  length  prescribed. 
A  dispassionate  and  candid  judge  of  this  description  (the  wolf 
judging  the  lamb)  is  perhaps  invited  by  a  medical  Mesmerist  to 
satisfy  himself  by  ocular  demonstration  in  his  hospitals,  since 
nothing  short  of  this  can  affect  his  understanding;  and  the  Mes- 
meric guest  commences  his  course  of  practical  experiment  by 
tossing  and  goring  the  patients  (fortunately  generally  insensi- 
ble) like  a  mad  bull;  his  only  thought  being  how  to  kill  two  at 
a  blow ;  and  because  he  has  been  compelled  to  develop  all  the 
Mesmeric  phenomena  hi  nisei f,  he  revenges  himself  by  declar- 
ing it  to  be  all  a  miserable  imposture  and  delusion :  passion  is 
the  same  all  over  the  world,  and  it  is  easier  to  instruct  ignorance 
than  pride. 

But  I  am  anxious  that  the  public  should  know  what  ]\.Iesmer- 
ism  really  is,  in  order  that  they  may  know  it  when  it  comes  be- 
fore them,  and  be  no  longer  deluded  by  prejudiced,  ignorant,  or 
interested  quasi  descriptions  of  it.  Abundant  examples  of  its 
acute,  and  extreme  effects  on  the  system  will  be  found  in  these 
pages,  as  well  as  many  of  the  intermediate  phases,  and  each, 
to  the  discriminating  observer,  is  distinctive  and  characteristic 
of  an  unusual  condition  of  the  body.  The  involuntary  quivering 
of  the  eyelids,  and  the  spasmodic  closing  of  the  eye,  in  per- 
sons a  minute  before  wide  awake,  and  resisting,  perhaps ; — the 
extinction  of  one  or  more  of  the  organs  of  sense,  which  we  saw 
in  full  activity  but  a  moment  ago; — the  eye  turned  up  so  that 
the  white  can  only  be  seen,  or  staring  wide  open,  fixed  and 
insensible   to   light; — sleep    walking, — delirium, — convulsions, — 


Il6  MESMERISM   BY  DOING  NOTHING. 

catalepsy,  in  persons  not  subject  to  these  affections  till  they  were 
subjected  to  the  mesmeric  processes; — is  not  any  one  of  these 
induced  symptoms  as  clearly  the  effect  of  some  constraining  in- 
fluence as  the  production  of  insensibility?  They  are  all  links 
of  the  same  chain,  and  in  some  patients  can  all  be  beautifully  ex- 
hibited in  sequence  and  connection,  from  the  quivering  of  an 
eyelash  to  the  most  intense  coma. 

Another  anti-mesmerist,  who  to  save  appearances  has  conde- 
scended to  look  at  certain  of  the  mesmeric  phenomena,  says,  on 
seeing  their  reality : — "There  is  no  use  in  denying  the  extraor- 
dinary condition  these  people  are  reduced  to;  but  the  whole 
secret  of  the  matter  is  that  they  are  a  set  of  poor  hysterical 
wretches,  and  I  will  show  you  that  I  can  mesmerise  them  as  well 
as  you,  by  doing  nothing."  The  enterprising  experimentalist 
proceeds  to  redeem  his  pledge,  and  actually  succeeds,  to  his  great 
delight  and  the  mystification  of  the  public,  in  disproving  the 
truth  of  the  axiom,  "ex  nihilo  nihil  fit," — for  he  produces  a 
serious  disease,  hysteria,  by  the  compelling  power  of  nothing! 
Upon  this,  the  obstructives  congratulate  each  other,  and  call  upon 
the  public  to  put  down  the  naked  hum;bug.  Would  not  the  pub- 
lic suppose  that  this  mesmerising  hy  nothing  was  an  ingenious 
and  original  experiment  of  the  anti-mesmeric  school  of  philoso- 
phy ?  And  yet  the  truth  is,  that  they  were  taught  their  favourite 
trick  by  the  Mesmerists;  who  have  not  only  declared,  that  this 
can  be  done,  but  that  it  is  a  natural  consequence  of  their  pro- 
ceedings, if  carried  to  a  certain  extent.  It  is  often  very  difficult, 
and  laborious,  to  excite  the  mesmeric  action  in  the  constitution ; 
but  being  once  excited,  a  very  slight  recurrence  to  the  original 
processes  will  bring  on  the  paroxysm  in  all  its  first  intensity,  and 
if  the  excitement  of  the  nervous  system  is  kept  up  by  frequent 
mesmerising,  it  takes  on  an  independent  diseased  action,  obeying 
constitutional  laws  which  we  do  not  understand :  we.  in  fact, 
have  inoculated  the  system  with  a  nervous  disease  which  often 
acts  spontaneously,  especially  on  any  reference  to  the  primary 
exciting  cause ;  and  at  this  stage  the  candid  medical  observer 
steps  in,  and  demands  the  applause  of  an  admiring  and  con- 
founded world,  for  having  done  with  "nothing,"  what  had  cost 
his  stupid  mesmeric  brother  so  much  trouble  to  effect. 

It  is  hardly  credible  that  Dr.  Elliotson  had  expressly  said, 
and  that  our  candid  philosophers  knew  it :— "At  length  there 
is  sometimes  such  sensibility,  that  almost  any  thing  will  induce 
sleep ;  indeed,  no  process  at  last  may  be  requisite  to  produce  the 


MESMERISING   BY  NOTHING.  117 

effect.  I  have  three  patients,  whom  I  was  originally  some  weeks 
in  sending  to  sleep,  though  I  gave  each  half  an  hour  daily  of 
manipulations,  and  gazing;  but  who  now  go  to  sleep  on  my 
merely  raising  my  hand,  or  looking  at  them  when  they  are  pre- 
pared to  expect  sleep.  I  told  each  of  them  that,  if  she  sat  still, 
I  would  mesmerise  her  in  the  next  room  through  the  door.  I 
retired,  shut  the  door  behind  me,  did  nothing,  but  walked  into 
a  further  room,  turned  back,  and  found  her  asleep:  so  with  the 
other  two  in  succession.  While  I  did  this,  I  thought  as  little 
of  them  as  possible,  and  busied  myself  with  any  thing  to  dis- 
tract my  attention." — Mesmerists  in  all  parts  of  the  world  have 
stated  the  same  fact,  and  I  can  bear  the  most  ample  testimony 
to  its  truth. 

What  candid  mind,  after  considering  this  explanation,  will 
regard  "mesmerising  by  nothing,"  as  a  demonstration  of  the 
imposture   of   Mesmerism  ? 

I  was  explaining  the  mesmeric  disease  (for  such  it  has  be- 
come, at  this  stage)  to  a  party  of  gentlemen,  the  other  day,  and 
while  speaking,  a  man  anticipated  my  intention  to  mesmerise 
him  "by  nothing,"  by  becoming  intensely  entranced  on  the  spot, 
when  I  was  not  regarding  him:.  The  gentlemen,  and  Dr.  Scott 
among  them,  used  every  means  to  ascertain  his  condition,  and 
were  as  well  convinced  that  he  had  lost  his  senses,  as  that  they 
were  in  possession  of  theirs : — in  fact,  although  the  paroxysm 
was  spontaneous,  he  would  have  borne  a  severe  surgical  operation 
without  feeling  it.  I  went  to  the  hospital  to-day  (8th  Dec. 
1845)  after  writing  the  last  line,  and  had  there  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  Dr.  Behn,  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology  in 
the  University  of  Kiel,  Mr.  Kiellerup,  Naturalist,  and  Mr.  Blyth, 
Curator  of  the  Asiatic  Society's  museum :  the  two  former  gen- 
tlemen are  attached  to  the  Danish  frigate,  now  here  on  a  po- 
litical and  scientific  mission.  As  all  three  were  observers  of 
nature  by  profession,  I  thought  it  a  good  opportunity  to  correct 
my  own  impressions  by  theirs,  if  different  from  mine,  and  there- 
fore submitted  to  their  notice  cases  of  direct  and  indirect  Mes- 
rnerism.  A  man  was  brought  before  us  with  an  enlarged  and 
tender  testis,  and  of  the  latter  point  Dr.  Behn  satisfied  himself 
and  friends,  by  pressing  the  part — there  could  be  no  mistake 
about  it.  I  then,  by  the  hands  and  breath,  mesmerised  him, 
standing  before  me,  till  he  could  not  open  his  eyes,  and  the  sensi- 
bility of  the  skin  had  disappeared.  Dr.  Behn  then  used  any  de- 
gree of  pressure  he  chose  to  apply  to  the  tender  part,  and  the 


Il8  HYSTERIC    THEORY. 

man's  face  was  as  placid  as  a  statue  of  Somnus;  every  means 
was  used  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  skin  and  the  organs  of 
sense,  and  it  was  clear  that  the  ear  was  the  only  organ  that  trans- 
mitted any  sensation  to  the  brain,  and  this  only  of  sound;  when 
water  was  squirted  suddenly  into  his  ear,  he  said  that  he  felt 
nothing,  and  on  waking,  he  was  surprised  to  find  his  face  w-et. 
I  also  converted  him  into  a  somnambulist,  that  the  gentlemen 
might  at  once  have  before  them  as  many  as  possible  of  the  genu- 
ine mesmeric  phenomena.  Another  man  was  then  brought ;  and 
on  asking  him  about  his  health,  he  said  that  he  was  feverish  and 
had  a  severe  pain  in  the  side.  This  was  evidently  the  case;  for 
Dr.  Behn  pressed  between  the  ribs,  and  found  the  intercostal 
spaces  exceedingly  tender.  I  then  put  him  in  a  corner  of  the 
room,  and  bid  him  sleep :  in  less  than  five  minutes  he  was  asleep, 
could  not  turn  round,  or  open  his  eyes,  catalepsy  was  estab- 
lished, and  all  sensibility  had  disappeared ;  as  Dr.  Behn  ascer- 
tained by  now  pressing  between  the  ribs  to  any  degree  he 
pleased ; — and  not  only  so,  the  whole  chest  was  seen  to  be  cata- 
lepsed  and  immovable.  His  eyelids  were  forced  open,  and  the 
white  of  the  eye  could  only  be  seen.  The  moment  he  awoke,  Dr. 
Behn  again  made  pressure  on  the  intercostal  spaces,  and  he 
showed  immediate  and  acute  suffering. — In  a  word,  the  spon- 
taneous mesmeric  condition  differed  in  no  particular  from  that 
induced  by  the  direct  application  of  the  mesmeric  influence,  and 
my  visitors  seemed  to  be  perfectly  satisfied  of  the  reality  of  the 
symptoms  in  both  states. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  dwell  on  this  point  farther,  and  I  hope 
enough  has  been  said  to  convince  the  public  that,  in  general, 
when  people  are  said  to  have  been  mesmerised  "by  nothing,"  it 
is  a  certain  proof  that  something  has  pre-disposed  to  this,  and 
we  know  nothing  that  can  do  this  but  Mesmerism,  It  is  hardly 
worth  while  to  dispute  about  names ;  and  if  it  is  allowed  that  I  can 
cure  nervous  headaches,  and  perform  painless  surgical  opera- 
tions by  hysteria,  call  the  process  hysteric  or  mesmeric — I  care 
not. 

But  after  all,  there  is  a  satisfaction  in  calling  things  by  their 
right  names,  and  I  cannot  possibly  see  how  hysteria  has  got  into 
my  hospitals,  where  I  never  saw  it  before — coolies  and  felons 
not  being  at  all  nervous  subjects.  I  have,  therefore,  generated 
a  new  disease  among  my  patients  by  nothing,  or  by  using  the 
mesmeric  processes.  Which  is  the  more  likely,  I  leave  my 
readers  to  decide.     As  natural  hysteria  may  be  supposed  to  be 


MODE  OF   STUDYIXG   MKSMERISM.  IIQ 

more  powerful  than  the  imitation.,  I  shall  look  with  impatience 
for  the  announcement,  in  "The  Morning  Post,"  that  Mrs,  Freak 
has  been  cured  of  her  nervous  headaches  by  the  skilful  applica- 
tion of  hysteria,  and  Lady  Tantrum  has  had  her  arm  cut  off  when 
in  a  fit  of  hysterics,  without  knowing  it.  These  should  be  easy 
feats  for  our  fashionable  physicians  and  surgeons,  as  they  have 
the  disease  and  antidote  ready  made  to  their  hands ;  whereas, 
it  cost  me  and  my  assistants  great  trouble  to  make  the  coohes 
and  prisoners  of  Bengal  hysterical,  to  the  degree  necessary  to 
render  them  insensible  to  the  loss  of  their  members. 

But  seriously,  if  medical  men  wish  to  see  and  understand 
the  effects  of  Mesmerism  on  the  body,  the  natural  .and  rational 
mode  of  proceeding  is  to  attempt  to  develop  them  in  the  persons 
of  their  own  patients ;  and  if  they  will  take  a  tithe  of  the  trouble 
I  have  been  at,  I  can  promise  them  very  general  success.  The 
finest,  as  well  as  the  most  striking  phenomena  will  then  be  equally 
diagnostic  to  their  practised  eyes,  and  their  understandings  will 
be  left  clear,  and  free  to  study  and  imitate  the  curative  processes 
of  Nature,  undisturbed  by  doubts  and  suspicions  regarding  the 
powers  of  observation  and  the  honesty  of  others. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Mesmerism  in  Surgery- -Journal  of  Practical  Mesmerism. — 
Mesmeric  Trance:  A  Leg  straightened  in;  Colic  cured  by; 
Penis  am.putated  in;  Arm  straightened  in;  Arm  amputated 
in;  Breast  cut  off  in;  Abscess  opened  in;  Heel  flayed  in; 
Tooth  extracted  in;  End  of  Thumb  cut  off  in;  Arm  laid  open 
in;  Three  Abscesses  opened  in;  Si)ius  laid  open  in;  Gum  cut 
away  in;  Invasion  of  the  waking  by  the  sleeping  State. — 
Mesmeric  Trance:  Hypertrophied  Prepuce  cut  off  in;  Sup- 
purating Pile  in;  Both  great  Toe  Nails  cut  out  in;  Knee 
straightened  in;  Ulcer  on  Temple  burned  zvith  Muriatic  Acid 
in;  Seton  introduced,  &c.  in;  Tumour  in  Groin  removed  in; 
Fungoid  Sorts  pared  off  in;  Scirrhus  Testes  extirpated  in; 
Cataract  operated  on  in;  Malignant  Disease  of  Testes  ex- 
tirpated in;  Unhealthy  Sore  pared  in;  Hypertrophied  Pre- 
puce cut  off  in;  Pain  extinguished  by;  Return  on  awaking; 
Amputation  of  Penis  in;  Unhealthy  Sores  pared  in;  Two 
Operations  for  Hydrocele  in. — Mesmerism  alike  favourable 
to  the  Operator  and  the  Patient. 

In  Surgery,  the  benefits  of  Mesmerism  are  not  confined  to 
the  extinction  of  pain  during  an  operation,  but  are  of  the  great- 
est general  and  particular  advantage  in  the  after-treatment  of 
surgical  diseases.  The  nerves  and  brain  have  not  been  shattered 
by  bodily  and  mental  anguish,  which  generally  excites  an  irri- 
tative fever  in  the  system,  wasting  the  powers  of  life,  and  rous- 
ing local  inflammation  in  the  injured  part ;  thereby  often  destroy- 
ing all  the  hopes  and  precautions  of  the  surgeon.  In  the  mes- 
meric sleep,  only  the  necessary  local  injury  has  been  inflicted ; 
and  on  awaking,  the  patient  sometimes  feels  no'pain  whatever, 
and  generally  only  a  slight  smarting  in  the  wound;  and  the 
constitution  sets  about  repairing  the  breach  of  substance  quietly, 
and  under  the  best  possible  circumstances ;  if  local  pains  follow, 
they  can  be  easily  removed  by  topical  manipulations;  all  which 
will  be  seen  in  the  following 

Journal  of  Practical  Mesmerism. 

April  20th. — ^Jeolal,  my  washerman,  aged  35,  has  been 
eighteen  months  ill ;  first  with  dysentery,  afterwards  with  rheu- 


PRACTICAL   MESMERISM.  121 

matic  fever,  in  consequence  of  which  his  left  knee  is  bent  upon 
the  thigli  at  a  right  angle. 

I  considered  him  to  be  a  hopeless  cripple,  I  mesmerised 
him  to-day  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  At  first  he  supported  his 
knee  with  both  hands ;  but  soon  allowed  me  to  remove  them, 
and  suspend  them  in  the  air.  The  leg  was  then  gradually  ex- 
tended, and  straightened  to  a  considerable  extent,  without  awak- 
ing him. 

April  2 1  St. — The  process  was  repeated  to-day,  and  more  force 
used,  which  awoke  him;  the  leg  was  still  farther  improved. 

April  22(1. — The  pulley  was  used  to-day,  and  very  consider- 
able power  applied  before  he  awoke.  The  muscular  contraction 
is  now  nearly  overcome,  and  the  remaining  stiffness  of  the  knee 
seems 'to  be  from  the  tendons  and  ligaments  about  the  joint,  and 
will  probably  yield  to  mechanical  extension,  by  exercise. 

May  nth. — He  can  now  walk  without  a  stick,  but  the  fibrous 
contractions  give  way  slowly.  I  am  convinced  that  direct  force 
might  have  torn  the  muscles  of  the  thigh,  but  could  not  have 
relaxed  them. 

June  22d. — His  leg  is  now  quite  straight,  and  the  knee  flexible ; 
he  has  got  a  violent  colic,  and  when  speaking  to  me  fell  down 
in  a  fainting  state. — Ordered  to  be  mesmerised. 

June  23d. — He  slept  for  an  hour,  and  awoke  much  relieved 
yesterday;  but  a  paroxysm  returned  last  night,  and  still  con- 
tinues.— Repeat  the  Mesmerism. 

June  24th. — He  remained  three  hours  in  the  mesmeric  sleep 
yesterday,  and  awoke  quite  well,  and  continues  so.  His  leg 
is  now  quite  strong,  and  he  has  returned  to  his  work. 

May  I2th. — Buxoo,  a  Khitmatgan.  There  is  a  fistulous  open- 
ing in  the  urethra  under  the  glans  penis,  which  is  sloughing,  and 
requires  to  be  amputated.  I  desired  him  to  be  mesmerised,  and 
returned  in  an  hour.  I  found  him  asleep,  and  when  looking  at 
him,  he  suddenly  opened  his  eyes,  but  immediately  went  to  sleep 
again,  and  in  five  minutes  after  I  cut  off  the  glans,  without 
awaking  him.  He  awoke  soon  after,  and  said  it  was  from  fear, 
not  pain. 

April  20th,  II  o'clock,  a.  m.— Kangalee,  a  peasant;  aged  20, 
weak,  and  ill  nourished.     He  had  a  fever  four  years  ago,  after 


122  EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL 

which  sores  broke  out  in  different  parts  of  his  body,  and  have 
left  large  cicatrices  like  burns.  There  is  one  about  the  left  elbow 
joint,  which  has  been  permanently  contracted  to  nearly  a  right 
angle,  for  seven  months.  He  was  catalepscd  in  twenty  min- 
utes ;  a  bottle  was  then  put  under  his  elbow  for  a  fulcrum,  and 
the  arm  was  gradually  extended  by  depressing  the  hand.  He 
moved  a  little,  and  the  muscles  contracted  occasionally,  but  soon 
melted  as  it  were,  under  my  hand,  and  I  left  him,  with  his  arm 
perfectly  straight,  extended  in  the  air  and  still  asleep. — Two 
o'clock,  p.  M.  He  awoke  half  an  hour  ago.  Sees  his  arm  is 
straight,  knows  not'how  it  was  done,  has  no  pain,  and  can  move 
it  freely. 

May  2d. — He  pulls  the  punkah  daily  with  his  left  arm,  for 
exercise. 

June  14th. — Dismissed  cured. 

May  5th. — Rantoonee  Buttachangie,  a  Brahmin ;  aged  40. 
There  is  a  prodigious  Fungus  hsematodes  protruding  from  the 
left  elbow-joint.  A  swelling  took  place  at  the  joint  when  he 
was  five  years  old,  and  has  gone  on  increasing  gradually,  but  the 
skin  remained  entire  till  an  incision  was  made  by  a  native  doctor, 
twelve  days  ago,  when  the  bloody  mass  started  through  the  in- 
teguments. It  exactly  resembles  the  contents  of  an  old  aneur- 
ism ;  the  structure  of  the  fungus  having  been  broken  up  by  the 
actual  cautery  applied  to  it  all  over,  in  order  to  stop  the  bleeding : 
it  was  a  frightful  mass.  I  desired  him  to  be  carefully  mesmer- 
ised, and  went  to  Chinsurah,  to  consult  with  Dr.  Elton,  in  charge 
of  the  troops  there.  We  returned  to  the  hospital  together,  and 
found  him  in  a  profound  sleep,  and  decided  to  take  the  arm  off 
instantly.  It  was  removed,  without  his  moving  or  complaining, 
and  Dr.  Elton  assured  me  that  his  countenance  had  never 
changed.  He  awoke  immediately  after  the  limb  was  off,  and 
declared,  again  and  again,  that  he  was  aware  of  nothing  having 
been  done  to  him  till  he  awoke  and  saw  his  arm  was  gone ;  and 
he  then  saw  Dr.  Elton  for  the  first  time. 

May  13th. — Is  doing  well. 

May  1 6th. — He  complains  of  pain  in  the  stump  to-day. — 
To  be  mesmerised. 

May  17th. — He  was  easily  put  to  sleep  yesterday,  and  slept 


OF  PRACTICAL  MESMERISM.  I23 

for  three  hours ;  was  free  from  pain  when  he  awoke,  and  con- 
tinues so. 

May  nth. — Meeroolla,  a  policeman;  aged  28,  strong  and 
healthy  looking.  He  has  got  a  fatty  tumour  of  the  right  mam- 
ma, which  he  begged  me  to  remove  to-day.  I  desired  him  to 
lie  down,  and  let  me  carefully  examine  it,  and  commenced  mes- 
merising him.  In  ten  minutes  he  was  fast  asleep;  in  five  min- 
utes more  I  transfixed  the  tumour  with  a  hook,  drew  it  up  off 
the  muscles,  and  cut  it  out,  without  disturbing  him  in  the  least, 
and  he  did  not  awake  till  half  an  hour  afterwards.  He  declares 
that  he  felt  no  pain  till  he  awoke,  and  remembers  nothing  after 
my  hands  were  placed  on  his  stomach,  which  was  in  about  five 
minutes  from  the  commencement. 

May  nth. — Podoo,  a  young  Hindoo  woman,  has  a  swelling 
over  the  false  ribs  of  the  right  side,  requiring  an  incision  to  be 
made  in  it.  I  desired  the  compounder  to  mesmerise  her,  while 
I  was  engaged  with  the  last  patient,  and  she  was  ready  before 
I  was :  a  deep  incision,  an  inch  long,  was  made  into  the  swell- 
ing, without  awaking  her,  and  I  left  her  sleeping. 

May  14th. — Maduh,  a  healthy-looking  coolie;  aged  30.  I 
saw  him  for  the  first  time  to-day,  at  ii  o'clock.  He  has  got  a 
sore  on  the  heel,  of  two  years'  standing;  the  skin  is  half  an  inch 
thick,  separated  from  the  subjacent  parts  all  round,  and  requires 
to  be  removed. — To  be  mesmerised.  I  went  on  to  Chinsurah, 
where  I  had  the  pleasure  to  be  introduced  to  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Banergie,  who  is  there  on  a  visit,  and  who  begged  me  to  show 
him  a  person  under  the  mesmeric  influence.  I  replied  that  I 
disapproved  of  experimenting  with  so  formidable  a  power,  to 
gratify  mere  curiosity;  but  I  had  left  a  man  under  the  process, 
and  that  if  he  would  go  to  the  hospital,  on  chance,  he  might  possi- 
bly be  gratified.  I  returned  to  the  hospital  after  an  hour,  and 
there  found  the  Reverend  Mr.  Fisher,  Mr.  Banergie,  and  Mr. 
Money,  the  collector.  The  patient  was  asleep,  and  I  immedi- 
ately commenced  dissecting  the  thickened  skin  from  the  plantar 
fascia,  which  was  very  difficult,  owing  to  its  thickness  and  hard- 
ness. It  almost  resembled  a  horse's  hoof,  and  removal  must 
have  been  very  painful  under  ordinary  circumstances.  He  was 
completely  insensible  to  the  pain,  however,  and  remained  asleep 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  I  had  finished. 

Mr.  Banergie  then  questioned  him,  in  Bengalee,  regarding 


124  EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL 

his  feelings,  and  he  protested  that  he  feU  nothing  till  he  awoke. 
Many  of  the  patients,  already  mentionea,  being  still  in  hospital, 
Mr.  Banergie  examined  them  in  Bengalee,  and  in  no  instance  did 
their  accounts  vary  from  what  I  had  related. 

May  26th. — Ram  Dass,  a  large  robust  man,  has  a  super- 
numerary tooth  between  the  eye-tooth,  and  the  first  grinder, 
growing  horizontally  into  his  mouth,  and  causing  him  great  an- 
noyance. I  entranced  him  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  lying  on  a 
mattress  on  the  table,  and  proceeded  to  open  his  jaws.  It  cost 
me  some  trouble  to  relax  the  temporal  muscles,  and  I  had  to  pro- 
ceed cautiously,  as  he  did  not  appear  to  be  under  the  extreme 
influence  of  the  mesmeric  power.  From  its  position,  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  lay  hold  of  the  tooth,  but  it  was  at  last  grasped,  and  ex- 
tracted. He  moved,  and  moaned  a  little,  but  I  soon  tranquillised 
him  again,  and  he  did  not  awake  till  almost  suffocated  by  the 
blood.  He  declared  he  awoke  from  this  cause,  and  not  from 
pain. 

May  29th. — Sibehurn  Sing,  a  young  robust  man,  had  his 
thumb  nearly  cut  through  by  a  sword,  fourteen  days  ago.  An 
attempt  was  made  to  unite  it,  but  failed ;  and  the  point  of  the 
finger  would  be  a  nuisance  if  kept.  In  ten  minutes  I  made  him 
insensible,  and  cut  off  the  end  of  the  thumb  without  awaking 
him.  He  soon  after  quietly  opened  his  eyes,  and  I  asked  him: — 
"Have  you  been  asleep?"  "Yes."  "Have  you  any  pain?" 
"No."  "Has  any  thing  hurt  you  to-day?"  "No."  "Do  you 
wish  your  nail  cut  off?"  "Yes."  "Look  at  it."  He  did  so, 
looked  confounded,  and  exclaimed,  "It's  gone!"  "Who  did  it?" 
"God  knows."  "How  did  it  happen,  has  it  fallen  off  itself?" 
"I  can't  tell — I  know  nothing  about  it." 

May  30th. — Modoomohun  Ray,  a  fine  boy,  12  years  old,  was 
brought  to  the  hospital,  fourteen  days  ago,  with  a  compound 
fracture  of  both  bones  of  the  forearm,  and  my  assistants  had 
several  times  tried  to  mesmerise  him,  in  the  hope  of  assuaging  the 
pain,  but  without  success.  Matter  has  formed,  and  the  wound 
must  be  enlarged,  upwards  and  downwards.  As  he  was  appre- 
hensive, I  put  a  piece  of  wet  cloth  over  his  eyes,  and  went  on 
with  my  affairs,  telling  him  that  it  v/ould  cool  his  brain.  The 
people  were  all  dismissed,  and  approaching  him  unobserved,  I 
succeeded  in  entrancing  him  in  ten  minutes,  and  laid  open  the 
arm  without  disturbing  him.     I  returned  after  three  hours,  and 


OF  PRACTICAL   MESMERISM.  I25 

found  him  still  sleeping.     On  awaking,  he  said  the  pain  was 
much  less,  and  that  no  one  had  hurt  him  that  day. 

June  2d. — Gungaram  Dass,  a  prisoner,  was  injured,  ten  days 
ago,  by  some  rubbish  falling  on  him,  and  in  consequence  three 
large  abscesses  have  formed  at  the  elbow,  wrist,  and  ankle,  which 
require  to  be  opened.  I  subdued  him  in  a  few  minutes,  opened 
the  abscesses,  and  left  him  sleeping.  On  my  return,  after  two 
hours,  he  had  just  awoke,  and  I  found  him  sitting  up  looking 
at  his  wounds.  I  asked  him  how  the  pus  had  escaped,  since  I 
saw  him  in  the  morning?  He  could  not  tell.  Of  its  own  ac- 
cord? He  supposed  so.  Had  any  one  cut  or  hurt  him  to-day? 
No  one. 

June  l6th. — Toorab,  a  peasant,  aged  30,  of  a  rickety  con- 
stitution, has  a  sinus,  six  inches  in  length,  under  the  pectoral 
muscle,  of  seven  months'  standing.  We  have  not  been  able  to 
close  it  by  any  means,  and  it  is  necessary  to  lay  it  open.  He  was 
entranced  by  one  of  my  assistants,  and  I  laid  the  whole  of  the 
diseased  tract  open  Vv^ithout  his  knowing  it,  and  left  him  sleeping. 

June  15th. — He  awoke  soon  after  I  left  him,  and  on  awaking, 
asked  where  the  blood  had  come  from  ?  He  has  hardly  had  any 
pain  in  the  wound,  and  has  no  recollection  of  being  disturbed 
in  his  sleep  yesterday. 

July  9th. — Mrs.  Clermont  is  suffering  from  one  of  her  wisdom 
teeth;  half  of  it  has  come  through,  but  the  rest  is  covered  v/ith 
the  indurated  and  ulcerated  gum.  I  explained  that  the  source 
of  the  irritation  must  be  removed,  by  cutting  away  the  offend- 
ing gum. 

July  loth. — I  entranced  her  to-day,  sitting  on  a  couch,  in 
the  presence  of  her  husband  and  his  sister;  laid  her  back  and 
cut  away  the  gum  without  awaking  her,  and  left  her  sleeping. 

July  nth. — This  is  a  very  interesting  case,  as  it  shows  the 
invasion  of  the  waking  by  the  sleeping  state.  Mrs.  C,  on  awak- 
ing yesterday,  arose  as  if  from  common  sleep,  and  went  to  adjust 
her  hair  in  the  glass,  when  she  saw  blood  about  her  mouth,  and 
this  first  attracted  her  attention  to  the  tooth;  she  thought  the 
gum  had  burst,  and  was  still  expecting  me  to  call.  For,  strange 
to  say,  she  had  no  recollection  of  having  seen  me  that  day,  nor 
of  what  happened  for  half  an  hour  before  I  put  her  to  sleep. 
The  incidents,  her  husband  informed  me,  that  occurred  during 


126  EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL 

this  time  were  these: — She  received  letters  from  the  postman, 
and  paid  for  them ;  a  lady  came  to  visit  her ;  and  then  I  arrived, 
and  sat  conversing  with  them  a  short  time.  After  seeing  the 
lady  to  her  carriage,  I  returned  and  mesmerised  her: — all  these 
occurrences  w^ere  blotted  from  her  mind.  She  feels  quite  well, 
and  awoke  much  refreshed.  If  such  inroads  are  made  into  the 
regions  of  sense,  at  one  sitting,  the  effect  of  frequent  unneces- 
sary experiments  may  be  guessed  at  in  such  sensitive  subjects  as 
this  lady ;  and  this  is  the  power  trifled  with,  and  made  a  show  of 
for  money  !* 

July  17th. — To-day,  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Davidson,  com- 
missioner of  the  district,  and  Mr.  Alexander,  Registrar  to  the 
Board  of  Revenue  (who  have  requested  me  to  name  them  as 
witnesses,)  I  operated  on  a  man  for  hypertrophy  of  the  prepuce, 
without  awaking  him.  After  letting  him  sleep  some  time,  I 
asked  the  gentlemen  if  I  should  awake  him,  and  at  their  desire, 
did  so  in  a  moment,  by  blowing  in  his  eyes.  He  was  restored  at 
once  to  full  consciousness,  and  Mr.  Davidson  remarked,  "I  v/ish 

Doctor was  here,  who  says  you  do  this  by  opium."       My 

visitors,  understanding  Bengalee,  asked  him  if  any  one  had  hurt 
him  to-day.     He  said,  "No."     If  he  would  like  his  disease  to  be 


*While  in  London,  arranging  for  the  publication  of  this  work,  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  being  introduced  to  Dr.  Elliotson.  under  whose  guidance 
I  mesmerised  two  females,  although  I  had  never  before  seen  Mesmerism, 
or  attempted  to  practise  it.  These  women  being  accustomed  to  be  mes- 
merised, I  was  not  surprised  at  my  success ;  but  an  event  which  happened 
a  few  days  afterwards,  astonished  both  myself  and  the  friends  who  wit- 
nessed the  occurrence.  At  an  evening  party  I  met  a  young  gentleman  from 
Oxford,  who  requested  me  to  mesmerise  him.  He  had  never  seen  Mes- 
merism; and  yet,  in  one  minute,  his  eyes  closed  under  my  manipulations, 
and  in  less  than  three  minutes  he  was  fast  asleep.  Being  diffident  in  my 
own  powers,  I  de-mesmerised  him  as  speedily  as  possible.  He  thus  de- 
scribed his  sensations :  "The  moment  you  pointed  your  fingers  at  me,  I 
felt  uncomfortable.  I  dared  not  meet  your  gaze;  a  sensation  of  heat, 
resembling  a  stream  of  electricity,  commenced  at  my  forehead  and  followed 
the  course  of  your  hands,  down  to  the  pit  of  my  stomach.  I  could  not 
open  my  eyes.  I  knew  I  was  sitting  on  a  chair  before  you,  and  the  last 
idea  in  my  mind,  before  falling  fast  asleep,  was  this — Shall  I  ever  be 
allowed  to  rise  again?" 

This  fact  seems  to  prove  that  the  power  of  mesmerising,  and  of  being 
mesmerised,  is  more  general  in  this  country  than  is  commonly  sup- 
posed.— Editor. 


OF  PRACTICAL   MESMFCRISM.  127 

removed?  He  answered,  that  he  would  thank  God  if  any  one 
would  do  so.  He  was  then  desired  to  sit  up,  and  his  cloth  re- 
moved; when,  seeing  his  nuisance  was  gone,  he  fell  back  with 
an  exclamation   of  wonder  and  gratitude. 

July  25th. — Buggabuttee,  a  Hindoo  woman,  aged  40,  has 
been  troubled  with  a  suppurating  pile,  as  big  as  the  end  of  my 
thumb.  She  was  mesmerised  at  eleven  o'clock,  and  at  twelve 
I  cut  off  the  tumour,  and  though  she  moved  and  moaned,  on 
av/aking  half  an  hour  after,  did  not  know  that  any  thing  had 
been  done  to  her. 

Aug.  4th. — Sona,  a  Hindoo  woman ;  25  years  old.  Both 
nails  of  the  great  toes  are  destroyed  to  the  roots,  by  the  com- 
bined effects  of  syphilis  and  mercury,  and  their  place  is  filled 
with  a  fungoid  ulcer.  She  was  mesmerised  at  twelve  o'clock, 
and  at  half  past  one  p.  m.,  I  dissected  out  the  entire  root  of  one 
nail,  without  awaking  her:  her  left  hand  and  arm  trembled  only, 
and  this  was  subdued  in  a  few  minutes,  by  her  hand  being  held 
in   mine. — Left  her  sleeping. 

Aug.  5th. — Again  entranced,  and  I  cut  out  the  other  nail 
without  annoying  her.  On  neither  occasion  has  she  had  any 
pain  on  awaking. 

Aug.  6th. — Golam  Hassein.  His  knee  has  been  contracted 
to  a  considerable  extent  for  two  months,  from  rheumatism.  He 
was  mesmerised  for  the  first  time  at  eleven  o'clock,  and  I  made 
his  leg  straight  at  one  o'clock,  the  new  ligamentous  adhesions 
were  felt,  and  heard,  cracking  under  my  hands. — He  felt  no  pain 
on  awaking. 

Aug.  8th. — Gendo,  a  Hindoo  woman ;  aged  50.  There  is 
a  large  sloughing  ulcer,  covering  all  her  right  temple.  She  was 
mesmerised  at  ten  o'clock  a.  m.  ;  and  at  half  past  eleven,  I  freely 
applied  muriatic  acid  to  the  whole  sore,  without  her  showing 
any  sensibility.  She  awoke  twenty  minutes  after,  and  knew 
nothing  about  it. 

Aug.  9th. — Parbuttie,  an  elderly  Hindoo  woman,  has  a  sinus 
extending  from  the  inner  ankle,  under  the  calf,  to  the  outer  side 
of  the  leg  near  the  knee,  which  is  contracted  by  a  dense  cicatrix 
running  two  thirds  round  the  joint,  and  involving  the  ham- 
strings :  the  knee  has  been  in  this  state  for  ten  years.  Being 
put  to  sleep,  a  counter  opening  was  made  in  the  leg,  and  a 


128  EXTRACTS   FROM   JOURNAL 

seton  run  through  the  leg,  without  her  feeHng  it.  I  then  leant 
all  my  weight  on  the  knee,  and  succeeded  in  extending  it  a  little, 
but  the  diseased  structures  would  yield  no  farther.  A  heavier 
and  stronger  gentleman  then  applied  all  his  power,  and  effected 
a  little  more,  but  it  was  evident  that  no  force  short  of  break- 
ing the  limb  could  straighten  it.  But  it  was  equally  certain,  that 
any  common  muscular  or  ligamentous  contraction  must  have 
yielded  on  the  spot. — The  woman  continued  to  sleep  for  hours 
after. 

Aug.  23d. — Napaul  Bagdy,  a  husbandman,  has  a  singular 
fungoid  mass  in  the  right  groin ;  it  is  the  size  of  a  small  cauli- 
flower, and  like  it  in  appearance,  the  surface  being  whitish  from 
sloughing.  It  spreads  from  a  peduncle  in  the  abdominal  ring, 
and  bleeds  much  when  handled.  His  father  says  that,  at  his 
birth,  there  was  only  one  testis  in  the  scrotum,  and  no  trace 
of  the  other  was  seen  till  he  was  six  months  old,  when  a  swell- 
ing appeared  in  the  groin.  This  gradually  increased  till  his 
twelfth  year,  but  was  not  painful  or  inconvenient.  About  this 
time  he  was  attacked  with  fever,  attended  with  increased  sensi- 
bility and  increase  of  size  in  the  tumour,  and  the  paroxysms  came 
on  twice  a  month,  up  to  June  last,  when  he  applied  to  a  barber- 
surgeon,  who  used  means  to  ripen  the  swelling.  In  the  course 
of  a  few  days  it  was  punctured,  and  blood  only  followed.  The 
opening  was  plugged  as  well  as  possible  with  a  candle  covered 
with  cloth  smeared  with  some  ointment,  but  in  a  few  days  this 
came  out,  and  the  following  day,  a  fungus  shot  out  of  the  wound, 
and  daily  increased  to  its  present  size.  It  is  now  a  very  foul 
mass,  its  surface  mortified  and  the  crevices  filled  with  maggots. 

Aug.  26th. — He  was  mesmerised  after  two  hours'  trial,  and 
the  mass  removed  without  his  feeling  it, 

Aug.  31st. — Discharged  at  his  own  request — wound  looking 
well. 

Sept.  I  St. — Raimgopal,  a  young  Hindoo,  has  got  a  high 
syphilitic  sore,  about  the  size  of  half  a  lemon,  on  each  side  of 
his  nates.  He  was  entranced  on  the  first  trial ;  and  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Dr.  Ross  and  Dr.  Sissmore,  I  turned  him  round  like  a 
log,  and  cut  off  both  the  excrescences  level  with  the  skin,  then 
turned  him  back  again,  and  left  him  sleeping.  It  is  needless 
to  sav  he  did  not  feel  it. 


OF  PRACTICAL   MESMERISM.  12g 

Oct.  8th. — Nazir,  a  peasant,  aged  60,  has  suffered  from  en- 
larged and  scirrhous  testis  for  four  years ;  the  parts  are  as  large 
as  a  child's  head,  and  extirpation  is  necessary. — He  was  en- 
tranced after  two  hours  to-day. 

Oct.  loth. — He  was  mesmerised  the  second  time,  to-day,  in 
the  presence  of  Mr.  Sutherland,  Dr.  Owen,  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Bradbury,  IMajor  Riddle,  Mr.  Higgen,  Mr.  Muller,  Mr.  Graves, 
Messrs.   Savigny,  Mr.  Calder,  and  Mr.  Bartlett. 

I  removed  the  parts  wdthout  his  showing  any  sign  of  sensi- 
bility till  the  last  artery  was  being  tied :  he  then  woke  up,  but 
went  immediately  to  sleep  again  for  half  an  hour,  and  on  awak- 
ing, said  that  he  was  only  conscious  of  a  little  pain  when  he 
awoke  for  a  moment,  and  found  me  to  be  tying  something.  He 
was  cheerful  and  talkative,  and  showed  no  signs  of  suffering  or 
exhaustion  in  his  countenance  or  manner,  and  said  the  pain  in 
the  wound  was  very  trifling. 

Nov.  20th. — Mohun  Dass,  a  peasant ;  aged  55 :  has  got  a 
cataract  in  one  eye.  He  was  entranced  on  the  first  trial,  and  I 
broke  down  the  lens  in  the  presence  of  Major  Smith  of  H.  M.'s 
9th  Regt.,  without  awaking  him. 

Nov.  2 1  St. — There  is  much  pain  in  the  eye. — To  be  mesmer- 
ised, and  leeches  applied.  He  slept  for  two  hours  with  the 
leeches  on,  and  on  awaking,  the  pain  was  nearly  gone. 

Nov.  26th.-^Mahes  Banergie,  a  Brahmin,  aged  40,  has  got 
an  enlarged  testis,  the  size  of  a  child's  head;  it  is  red,  glisten- 
ing, and  very  painful,  and  there  is  a  scrotal  hernia  above  it.  He 
was  entranced  on  the  first  trial,  and  I  returned  the  gut  into  the 
abdomen,  handling  the  inflamed  part  very  rudely,  without  his 
showing  the  least  sensibility.  I  then,  in  the  presence  of  Captain 
D.  L.  Richardson,  dissected  out  the  diseased  organ.  The  opera- 
tion was  tedious,  as  I  had  to  carefully  separate  the  mass  from 
the  hernial  sack.  He  moved,  as  in  an  uneasy  dream,  but  did 
not  awake  till  we  were  tying  the  arteries,  which  were  very 
numerous ;  he  then  said,  that  he  had  felt  nothing  till  that  mo- 
ment. The  muscular  movements,  sometimes  seen,  looked  more 
like  the  contractions  induced  by  cutting  a  recently  dead  animal, 
than  the  common  contortions  from  pain ;  and  I  believe  may  be 
avoided  by  patience,  as  every  trance  seems  to  deepen  the  insen- 
sibility.    I  need  not  point  out  to   the  surgeon   the  advantage 


130  EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL 

he  would  derive  from  the  mesmeric  trance,  in  reducing  strangu- 
lated hernia,  and  spasmodic  strictures  of  the  urethra. 

Nov.  30th. — Mahes,  a  peasant,  aged  32,  has  got  a  deep  ulcer 
of  a  year's  standing,  at  the  root  of  the  penis,  that  penetrates 
under  the  pubes ;  the  edges  are  callous,  and  prevent  it  healing. 
He  was  subdued  in  two  hours  on  the  first  day,  and  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Dr.  Tritton  and  a  party  of  officers  of  the  71st  Regiment 
N.  I.,  I  pared  off  the  margins  of  the  sore  without  his  awaking. 
He  awoke  a  few  minutes  after,  said  he  had  been  asleep,  and 
dreamt  that  some  one  had  pulled  him  off  the  roof  of  a  house, 
and  declared  that  he  felt  710  pain  whatever  at  the  moment  of 
speaking.  I  thereupon  proposed  that  he  should  allow  me  to  cut 
him  a  very  little,  as  it  would  facilitate  the  healing  of  the  sore, 
but  he  would  not  hear  of  it.  Dr.  Tritton  and  the  rest  also  joined 
their  persuasions ;  but  he  implored  us  for  the  love  of  God  to  let 
him  alone — he  would  rather  die  than  be  cut,  that  the  proposal 
had  already  killed  him,  &c.  He  was  desired  to  sit  up,  and  his 
cloth  removed ;  on  seeing  the  altered  state  of  tilings,  he  was 
greatly  alarmed  and  puzzled,  and  on  being  shown  the  pieces  of 
flesh,  said  they  had  certainly  belonged  to  him  before  he  went  to 
sleep,  and  how  I  got  hold  of  them  he  had  no  idea.  As  I  found 
myself  in  the  company  of  candid  and  dispassionate  observers,  I 
showed  them  Mesmerism  in  all  its  physical  symptoms,  whether 
directly  or  indirectly  produced,  and  Dr.  Tritton  very  kindly  said 
at  parting,  that  he  was  quite  convinced  of  the  reality  of  the 
symptoms  from  first  to  last,  whether  produced  by  something,  or 
nothing,  and  that  he  now  quite  understood  the  "mesmeric  dis- 
ease," and  said  I  was  at  liberty  to  say  so,  if  I  pleased. 

Dec.  I  St. — I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  visit  from  the 
gentlemen  engaged  in  the  railway  survey,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Simms,  Captain  Western,  Captain  Boileau,  Mr.  Fraser,  and  Dr. 
Macauley.  They  found  a  man  entranced,  from  whom  I  was 
about  to  remove  a  hypertrophied  prepuce.  As  he  appeared  to 
be  ready,  I  commenced  at  once ;  but  seeing  that  he  shrunk  from 
the  knife,  without  awaking,  however,  I  desisted,  and  proposed 
to  adjourn  to  the  other  hospital,  saying  that  this  man  would 
probably  be  ready  on  our  return.  We  accordingly  went,  and  I 
requested  Dr.  ISIacauley  to  ascertain  if  a  man  brought  before 
us  had  pain  in  his  scrotum.  He  said  there  was  no  doubt ;  and 
the  rest  were  satisfied  that  there  was  no  mistake  about  it.  I 
ordered  him  to  be  entranced  1)cforc  them,  which  was  easily  done, 


OF  PRACTICAL  MESMERISM.  I3I 

as  he  liad  been  twice  operated  on  for  hydrocele,  in  the  trance. 
I  pulled  him  up,  and  set  him  on  his  feet  sleeping,  before  the 
gentlemen,  and  begged  them  to  deal  with  him  as  they  pleased. 
He  was  catalepsed  by  them  in  the  most  painful  attitudes,  to  which 
he  was  as  indifferent  as  a  man  of  clay;  and  Dr.  Macauley  now 
squeezed  the  painful  part  with  as  much  effect  as  if  the  man  had 
been  a  mummy.  I  stripped  him  naked ;  and  when  he  awoke  and 
found  himself  standing  in  the  presence  of  gentlemen  in  this 
condition,  his  look  of  wonder  and  shame,  if  not  natural,  was 
most  beautiful  acting,  and  he  certainly  escaped  being  found  out. 
As  soon  as  he  awoke.  Dr.  Alacauley  pressed  the  diseased  part, 
and  there  could  be  no  doubt  about  his  feelings  on  the  suljjcct; — 
the  pain  was  evidently  instantaneous  and  acute.  On  returning 
to  the  Charity  Hospital,  I  removed  the  enlarged  cellular  substance 
from  the  whole  penis;  the  man  did  not  shrink  in  the  least  from 
the  knife,  and  slept  a  good  while  after  the  operation.  On  ques- 
tioning him,  he  said  that  he  had  been  put  to  sleep  to  be  operated 
on ;  but  as  he  was  now  awake,  he  would  wish  it  to  be  put  off  till 
to-morrov.\  We  then  showed  him  the  liberties  that  had  been 
taken  with  him,  and  he  recognised  his  property;  but  how  it  had 
changed  owners  he  had  no  conception, 

Dec.  2 1  St. — Samoo,  a  weaver,  has  got  a  bad  sloughing  sore 
of  the  prepuce  and  glans,  of  a  year's  standing. — To  be  mes- 
merised. 

Dec.  22d. — He  was  mesmerised  for  two  hours  yesterday,  and 
slept  an  hour  afterwards,  apparently  naturally.  To-day  I  saw 
him  after  half  an  hour's  mesmerising,  when  the  trance  was  fully 
established,  his  whole  body  being  rigid.  As  I  had  not  time  then, 
I  left  him,  and  returned  in  an  hour,  and  found  his  body  still 
stiff.  I  cut  open  and  took  oft"  the  prepuce ;  and  finding  the  glans 
half  eroded,  I  cut  it  off  too.  The  man  showed  no  sign  oflife; 
the  body  continued  stiff*,  and  the  pulse  natural.  He  awoke  in 
half  an  hour  afterwards,  and  did  not  discover  that  any  thing 
had  been  done  to  him  till  he  went  to  make  water. 

Dec.  29th. — Mahes,  operated  on  last  month.  The  sore  is 
callous,  and  it  will  greatly  advance  his  cure  to  have  it  pared. — 
To  be  mesmerised  in  my  absence.  I  went  on  to  Chinsurah,  and 
there  met  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cahusac,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mullins,  who 
requested  to  see  any  mesmeric  cases  in  hand.  They  returned 
with  me  to  the  hospital,  and  we  found  Mahes  entranced.  I 
pared  the  sore,  and  he  did  not  awake  till  a  quarter  of  an  hour 


132  EXTRACTS  FROM  JOURNAL 

afterwards.  Mr.  Miilliiis,  who  speaks  Bengalee,  asked  him  if 
he  had  been  disturbed  in  his  sleep.  He  said  "No;"  and  that 
the  pain  was  not  greater  than  before  he  went  to  sleep. 

We  found  another  man  entranced,  whose  elbow  had  been 
dislocated  for  twenty  days.  I  tried  to  reduce  it,  using  all  my 
force,  but  did  not  succeed ;  he  moved  uneasily,  but  did  not  awake 
till  ten  minutes  after  I  had  desisted,  and  then  said  that  nothing 
had  disturbed  him. 

Dec.  26th. — Goluck  Seit,  a  prisoner,  has  got  a  hydrocele  on 
each  side.  A  young  Hindoo  subdued  him  to-day  in  ten  min- 
utes, on  the  first  trial.  When  about  to  operate,  I  saw  that  he 
possessed  a  consecrated  nail,  on  one  of  his  little  fingers ;  and 
knowing  the  value  attached  to  this,  I  resolved  to  get  possession 
of  it,  if  possible,  as  a  moral  test  of  his  being  insensible,  for  he 
would  as  soon  have  cut  a  cow's  throat  and  eaten  a  beefsteak  as 
allowed  me  to  cut  off  his  nail,  while  in  possession  of  his  senses. 
It  is  a  common  practice  with  the  Hindoos  to  vow  their  hair, 
beards,  or  nails  to  Shiva,  the  Destroyer,  in  the  hope  of  averting 
his  anger;  and  this  man  had  consecrated  his  little  finger-nail  to 
Shiva  Forakissore, — Forakissore,  in  this  district,  being  a  famous 
shrine  of  the  god.  I  transferred  the  sacred  excrescence  to  my 
pocket,  without  any  remonstrance  being  made,  and  then  per- 
formed the  less  formidable  operation  of  withdrawing  the  water, 
and  throwing  in  the  injection,  of  which  he  knew  nothing,  on 
awaking  two  hours  after.  His  only  distress  was  the  loss  of  his 
nail,  and  he  spent  hours  in  hunting  for  it,  supposing  that  it  had 
been  broken  off  by  accident. 

Dec.  29th. — I  entranced  Goluck  Seit  to-day  in  five  minutes ; 
and  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Cahusac  and  Mr.  Mullins,  operated  on 
the  other  hydrocele,  to  which  he  was  as  indifferent  as  on  the 
first  occasion.  But  before  putting  him  to  sleep,  I  showed  the 
gentlemen  how  painful  was  the  side  operated  on  three  days  ago ; 
and  yet,  in  five  minutes  after,  he  allowed  me  to  squeeze  his 
testicle  to  any  extent,  without  exhibiting  a  vestige  of  uneasiness. 
I  awoke  him  in  half  an  hour,  that  Mr.  Mullins  might  question 
him ;  and  he  said  that  he  saw  the  water  was  gone,  but  how  it  had 
escaped  he  had  no  idea. 

Dec.  30th. — Bungsee,  operated  on  last  month  for  a  scrotal 
tunijour.  The  wound,  from  his  debilitated  condition,  is  glazed 
and  callous,  and  is  wasting  him  with  a  useless  discharge.  It 
would  greatly  shorten  his  cure  to  pare  the  sore,  and  bring  it 


OF  PRACTICAL   MESMERISM,  I33 

together  with  deep  sutures ;  but  I  could  hardly  bring  myself 
to  propose  it  to  a  person  in  his  senses,  as  it  would  be  as  painful 
as  the  capital  operation.  Mesmerism,  however,  makes  surgery 
pleasant  to  both  parties ;  and  having  easily  entranced  him,  I 
pared  and  shaped  the  sore  very  leisurely,  (it  was  six  inches  long, 
by  two  deep,)  inserted  the  deep  sutures,  and  left  him  sleeping. 
He  awoke  after  four  hours. 

Jan.  2d. — The  sutures  were  taken  out  to-day,  and  the  sore  is 
adherent  throughout. 

This  power  of  remedying  any  defect  in  the  operation  after- 
wards, without  inflicting  pain,  is  not  one  of  the  least  advantages 
of  Mesmerism. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Hypertrophy  of  the  Scrotum;  different  Causes  of. — ElepJiantiasis 
endemic  in  Bengal  and  Loiuer  Egypt;  probable  Causes  of. — 
E.vample  of  Malarious  Fever. — True  Elephantiasis  of  the 
Scrotum. — Hypertrophy  froni  Hydrocele;  from  Syphilis;  Con- 
dition of  the  Organs  involved;  Mode  of  operating;  Misman- 
agement by  the  Native  Doctors ;  Number  of  Operations  for 
Six  Years  previous  to  April,  1845;  in  the  Mesmeric  Trance, 
for  Eight  Months. — First  Case. — Some  Cause  for  the  late 
Increase  of  Cases. — Operations  in  the  Mesmeric  Trance. 

This  disease  is  so  common  in  Bengal,  and  attains  such  a 
magnitude,  that  it  deserves  a  chapter  to  itself,  in  which  it  will 
be  seen  that  if  Mesmerism  cannot  prevent,  it  is  very  effectual  in 
assisting  its  removal.  These  singular,  and  often  prodigious 
tumours  are  generally  called  "elephantiasis  of  the  scrotum ;"  but, 
correctly  speaking,  this  is  a  misnomer,  many  of  them  not  having 
their  origin  in  the  constitutional  affection  called  elephantiasis, 
but  arising  from  local  irritation  and  debility  of  the  parts,  caused 
by  syphilitic  sores,  or  simple  hydrocele;  and  the  appearance  of 
the  tumours  and  aspect  of  the  patients  are  often  characteristic 
of  their  respective  exciting  causes. 

In  true  constitutional  elephantiasis  the  disease  is  accompanied 
with  periodic  fever,  and  general  cachexy  to  such  a  degree  as  to 
make  it  unsafe  to  remove  the  local  excrescence.  The  disease,  in 
this  shape,  is  endemic  in  Bengal  almost  exclusively,  it  being  rarely 
seen  in  upper  India,  and  appears  to  have  its  origin  in  a  hot,  moist, 
malarious,  relaxing  climate,  in  which  the  poor  are  ill-fed  and  ill- 
clothed.  In  Egypt  it  is  also  principally  confined  to  the  delta  of  the 
Nile,  which  considerably  resembles  Bengal  in  climate  and  the  con- 
dition of  its  people.  Endemic  sources  of  disease  abound  here  to  a 
dreadful  extent,  but  chiefly  originate  in  the  ignorance,  indiffer- 
ence, and  poverty  of  the  people ;  and  an  enlightened  and  benevo- 
lent government  should  interfere  to  prevent  its  subjects  perishing 
in  their  ignorance,  by  enforcing  stringent  police  regulations  for 
the  improvement  of  the  public  health,  especially  by  attention  to 
drainage  and  filling  up  all  unnecessary  pools  of  water.  Ragged 
old  tanks,  and  offensive  pools  and  holes  of  water,  form  a  chain 

134 


CAUSES  OF  ENDEMIC   ELEPHANTIASIS.  135 

along  the  roadside,  in  and  near  all  towns  and  villages,  and  spread 
like  a  network  over  the  country ;  their  insulation  rendering  them 
only  the  more  pestiferous,  by  making  each  an  independent  hotbed 
of  malarious  exhalations.  The  thing  is  so  general,  that  every 
cottage  may  be  said  to  be  built  over  a  green  putrefying  pool,  out 
of  which  the  mud  to  build  a  house  had  been  taken,  and  which  is 
reckoned  a  domestic  convenience.  Into  this  all  the  animal  and 
vegetable  debris  of  the  houses  is  thrown :  the  pigs  wallow  in  it, 
the  people  wash  their  fish  and  rice,  and  bathe  in  it ;  and  it  is  then 
used  for  cooking  and  drinking,  as  it  is  conveniently  near,  and 
saves  the  troul)lc  of  going  to  the  nearest  large  tank,  or  the  river. 
This  accumulation  of  animal  and  vegetable  matter,  festering  un- 
der a  tropical  sun,  renders  every  hole  a  pest  pit,  and  the  whole 
population  eat,  drink,  and  breathe  perpetual  infection.  The  ef- 
fects are  as  dreadful  as  might  be  anticipated  in  a  debilitating 
clim,ate,  and  among  an  ill-fed  people,  and  are  deeply  written  in 
the  personal  appearance  of  the  natives  of  the  country. 

Ague,  remittent  fever,  spleen,  rheumatism,  diarrhoea,  dysen- 
tery, and  cholera  are  inherited  by  the  poor  people  along  with 
their  homes ;  and  the  general  constitutional  debility  is  evidenced 
by  the  incredible  frequency  of  elephantiasis,  diseases  of  the  skin, 
and  parasitic  growths  on  the  body.  Ague  and  spleen  were  en- 
demic diseases  in  Scotland,  fifty  years  ago,  when  every  cottage 
had  its  "midden"  before  the  door;  and  if  northern  nations  suflfer 
so  much  from  miasmatic  influences,  we  can  readily  imagine  their 
terrible  energy  in  Bengal,  where  every  aid  and  appliance  is  af- 
forded them. 

I  shall  give  an  illustration  of  the  extreme  gravity  of  these 
causes  of  disease,  from  a  case  which  lately  occurred  in  my  private 
practice,  and  which  I  am  disposed  to  regard  as  an  acute  form  of 
the  disease  which,  in  its  chronic  shape,  gives  rise  to  constitutional 
elephantiasis.  On  the  i6Lh  May,  1845,  I  was  requested  to  visit 
one  of  the  richest  Hindoo  families  here ;  and  on  going,  found 
eight  persons,  men,  women,  and  children,  labouring  under  differ- 
ent degrees  of  the  same  disease,  and  of  which  two  men  of  the 
same  party  had  died,  shortly  before.  In  the  worst  cases  the 
feet  were  swollen,  and  hard  as  in  elephantiasis,  and  a  brick-red 
inflammation  extended  half  way  up  the  leg,  and  was  still  advanc- 
ing. The  others  were  worn  out  with  fever,  and  their  bodies 
were  generally  or  partially  dropsical.  The  party  consisted  of 
one  family  and  its  attendants  :  no  other  persons  living  in  the  same 
house  were  affected.     This  led  me  to  suspect  some  local  cause 


136  CAUSES  OF  ENDEMIC  ELEPHANTIASIS. 

of  contamination,  and  I  requested  to  be  allowed  to  view  the  suite 
of  apartments  occupied  by  this  part  of  the  family.  The  house 
is  a  large  two-storied  pile,  in  which,  as  usual,  all  the  family  con- 
nections live.  I  could  see  nothing  objectionable  about  the  rooms 
inhabited  by  my  patients;  but,  on  looking  out  of  the  back  win- 
dows, I  saw  that  the  house  rose  right  over  a  large,  ragged,  neg- 
lected tank,  covered  with  green  filth,  and  smelling  vilely,  and 
that  this  was  the  only  part  of  the  house  so  situated.  I  then 
examined  below,  and  perceived  that  the  v.-ater  was  led  upon  a 
brick  platform  to  a  passage  in  the  lower  story,  to  save  the  people 
from  going  out ;  numerous  narrow  lanes,  the  sides  as  high  as  the 
house,  led  from  the  tank  to  the  different  parts  of  the  house,  and 
all  opened  into  the  court  around  which  this  family  exclusively 
lived  in  small  ill-ventilated  rooms.  In  short,  it  was  a  most  in- 
genious labyrinth,  contrived  for  receiving  and  retaining  all  the 
mephitic  vapours  from  the  tank,  into  which  were  thrown  all  the 
"exuviae"  of  this  large  family,  or  rather  clan.  This  year,  it  so 
happened,  was  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  development  of  malaria ; 
all  the  tanks  in  the  district  being  dried  up  to  the  dregs ;  so  that, 
for  months,  this  large  putrid  area  had  been  exhaling  death  among 
this  unfortunate  family.  The  disease,  I  therefore  concluded, 
was  only  an  aggravated  form  of  the  malarious  fever  that  usually 
ends  in  elephantiasis  and  dropsy ;  the  stage  of  elephantiasis  being 
only  more  acute  than  usual,  from  constitutional  peculiarity,  or  the 
severity  of  the  disease.  Being  questioned  as  to  their  probability 
of  recovery,  I  said,  that  there  was  little  hope,  except  for  one  of 
them,  and  at  this  moment  (ist  Dec.,)  one  only  is  alive,  but  not 
recovered. 

The  true  "elephantiasis"  scrotal  tumours  are  excessively  dense 
in  the  rind,  the  cells  of  the  cellular  membrane  being  filled  with 
dense  fibrinous  deposit,  that  makes  it  look  and  cut  like  half-tanned 
hide ;  the  skin  is  black,  and  the  mass  is  usually  studded  with 
tubercles. 

The  disease  sometimes  only  attacks  the  skin  of  the  penis ;  and 
this  organ,  in  one  instance,  was  as  long  and  thick  as  a  man's 
arm,  and  ended  in  a  wart  bigger  than  a  fist.  An  incision  was 
made  down  upon  the  penis  from  the  symphysis  pubis ;  and 
having  freed  it,  the  diseased  tube  was  struck  off  where  it  joined 
the  scrotum.  I  believe  that  the  body  of  the  penis  will  always 
be  found  unchanged  and  in  situ,  in  this  disease;  the  testes  fre- 
quently unaltered,  but  very  variously  situated,  and  with  common 
expedition,   the   bleeding  allows   time   enough   to   save   all   the 


MODE  OF  OPERATING  ON  SCROTAL   ELEPHANTIASIS.  1 3/ 

organs,  if  it  is  thought  expedient  to  do  so,  in  tumours  of  moder- 
ate dimensions.  Even  when  the  testes  are  enlarged,  and  castra- 
tion is  performed,  the  spermatic  vessels  have  not  their  calibre  or 
activity  increased  (in  proof  of  this,  I  did  not  secure  them  at  all 
in  one  case)  ;  and  in  general  the  arterial  bleeding  is  moderate,  as 
might  be  expected  in  a  disease  of  a  low  organisation. 

The  mode  of  operating  I  adopt  is  as  follows : — The  penis  be- 
ing always  in  situ,  as  has  been  said,  it  is  immediately  found  by 
running  a  bistoury  from  the  opening  in  the  prepuce,  wherever  it 
may  be,  up  to  the  symphysis  pubis,  and  a  long  bistouri  cache  is  a 
very  convenient  instrument  for  this  purpose ;  it  is  pushed  up  till 
it  reaches  the  pubes,  and  the  penis  is  exposed  at  once  by  one  out- 
ward cut.  The  penis  is  then  easily  freed,  and  a  semi-lunar  in- 
cision carried  from  its  root  across  each  of  the  spermatic  cords ; 
these  are  easily  found ;  and  if  the  testes  prove  to  be  worth  pre- 
serving, they  are  reflected  back,  the  incision  is  extended  down 
to  the  perineum  on  both  sides,  and  the  mass  rapidly  removed ;  if 
the  testes  are  diseased,  the  whole  is  removed  together.  This  plan 
is  simple  and  expeditious :  one  continued  wound  suffices  for  find- 
ing the  testes,  and  removing  the  tumour ;  and  the  w'ound  has 
the  advantage  of  being  a  gaping  one,  discharging  the  blood  and 
water  freely,  and  permitting  one  to  see  clearly.  By  this  mode 
I  always  secure  flaps,  which  often  adhere  in  four  days  by  the 
first  intention ;  and  even  if  they  partially  slough,  enough  is  left 
to  support  and  defend  the  testes,  as  they  adhere  to  some  part  of 
the  covering.  The  testes  often  adhere  to  the  fundus  of  the 
tumour,  which  vexatious  complication  is  generally  caused  by 
the  natives  making  deep  escars  with  the  actual  cautery,  in  the 
hope  of  discussing  the  swelling  by  suppuration ;  but  the  irritation 
only  accelerates  the  disease.  In  these  cases  the  spermatic  cords 
are  greatly  elongated,  perhaps  a  foot  long;  and  they,  as  well  as 
the  testes,  must  run  great  risk  of  sloughing  without  any  cover- 
ing and  natural  support.  In  my  experience,  even  when  the 
flaps  partially  fail  (I  have  never  seen  them  do  so  entirely.)  they 
are  a  great  comfort  to  the  patient  by  the  adhesions  which  the 
cords  and  testes  form  in  two  or  three  days. 

During  the  six  years  previous  to  April,  1845,  I  had  operated 
on  eleven  cases;  and  in  the  last  eight  months,  since  I  began  to 
operate  in  the  mesmeric  trance,  I  have  removed  seventeen 
tumours,  making  in  all  twenty-eight,  varying  from  a  few  pounds 
to  eighty  pounds;  and  there  has  not  been  a  fatal  case  among 
them. 


138  MESMERIC   OPERATIONS   ON 

The  results  are — 

All  the  parts  saved  in         -         -         -        -  13 

One  testis  sacrificed     -----  6 

Both 8 

All  removed        ------  i 

28 

Of  the  seventeen  operations  in  the  mesmeric  trance  three 
only  were  imperfect,  the  persons  awaking  before  the  operation 
was  finished;  this  imperfect  sensibility  was  a  great  comfort  to 
the  patient,  and  gave  great  facilities  to  the  operator.  Here  is  my 
first  case,  and  an  example  of  this : — 

April  23d. — Bachoo.  Saw  him  for  the  first  time  to-day,  at  11 
o'clock  A.  M. :  he  has  got  hypertrophy  of  the  scrotum  ;  the  tumour 
is  twice  the  size  of  a  man's  head.  I  put  him  to  sleep,  and  made 
his  arms  cataleptic  in  three  quarters  of  an  hour. 

Pricking  and  inhaling  ammonia  disturbed,  but  did  not  awake 
him ;  I  therefore  proceeded  to  operate,  but  he  awoke  after  I  had 
slit  up  the  prepuce.  Upon  this  I  desisted,  and  will  try  to  edu- 
cate him  into  insensibility.     To  be  mesmerised  daily. 

April  27th. — He  has  been  easily  mesmerised  daily,  since  the 
23d ;  is  not  insensible  to  pricking,  but  it  does  not  awake  him,  and 
I  could  afford  no  more  time  to  him.  I  pulled  him  by  the  legs 
to  the  end  of  the  table ;  allowed  the  tumour  to  hang  down  unsup- 
ported, and  bent  his  knees,  putting  his  feet  on  the  edge  of  the 
table;  and  in  this  painful  attitude  he  remained  for  half  an  hour, 
without  moving.  His  legs  and  arms  were  then  properly  disposed 
of,  in  case  he  should  awake,  and  the  tumour  quickly  removed  ;  the 
first  incisions  did  not  awake  him,  but  before  I  was  done  he  was 
completely  roused. 

Since  then  I  have  had  every  month  more  operations  of  this 
kind  than  take  place  in  the  native  hospital  in  Calcutta  in  a  year, 
and  more  than  I  had  for  the  six  years  previous.  There  must  be 
sorme  reason  for  this,  and  I  only  see  two  v>^ays  of  accounting 
for  it :  my  patients,  on  returning  home,  either  say  to  their  friends 
similarly  afflicted,  "Wah !  brother,  what  a  soft  man  the  doctor 
Sahib  is !  He  cut  me  to  pieces  for  twenty  minutes,  and  I  made 
him  believe  that  I  did  not  feel  it.  Isn't  it  a  capital  joke?  Do  go 
and  play  him  the  same  trick  ;  you  have  only  to  laugh  in  your  elbow, 
and  you  will  not  feel  the  pain."  Or  they  say  to  their  brother  suf- 
ferers,— "Look  at  me ;  I  have  got  rid  of  my  burthen,  (of  20,  30, 


SCROTAL   ELEPHANTIASIS.  139 

40,  50,  60,  or  80  lbs.,  as  it  may  be,)  am  restored  to  the  use  of  my 
body,  and  can  again  work  for  my  bread :  tiiis,  I  assure  you,  the 
doctor  Sahib  did  wlien  I  was  asleep,  and  1  knew  nothing  about 
it ; — you  will  be  equally  lucky,  I  dare  say ;  and  I  advise  you  to  go 
and  try;  you  need  not  be  cut  if  you  feel  it."  Which  of  these 
hypotheses  best  explains  the  fact  my  readers  will  decide  for  them- 
selves. It  ought  to  be  added,  that  most  of  these  persons  were 
not  paupers,  but  people  in  comfortable  circumstances,  whom  no 
inducement  short  of  painless  operations  could  tempt  to  enter  a 
charity,  or  any  other  hospital ;  and  all  who  know  the  natives  are 
aware  of  this. 

I  have  said  that  only  three  out  of  the  seventeen  awoke  be- 
fore the  operation  was  finished ;  I  will  not  inflict  the  whole  four- 
teen completely  successful  cases  on  the  reader,  but  only  present 
some  of  the  last. 

Sept.  2d. — I  was  stopped  on  the  road  to-day,  and  requested 
to  go  into  a  temple  to  see  a  sick  Fuqueer ;  on  entering  I  found 
a  healthy-looking  man  of  sixty,  but  he  was  nearly  blind  from 
cataracts,  and  had  a  scrotal  tumour  of  about  thirty  pounds' 
weight,  which  he  begged  me  to  remove.  I  examined  it,  but  gave 
no  opinion,  and  said  I  would  consider  of  it ;  I  then  went  on  to' 
Chinsurah,  to  see  Dr.  Ross,  (in  charge  of  the  troops  there,)  to 
whom  I  said,  that  if  he  chose  to  return  with  me,  I  would  try  to 
show  him  a  mesmeric  operation.  He  consented,  and  in  passing 
the  Fuqueer's  house  we  carried  him  with  us  to  the  hospital.  The 
cook  of  the  hospital,  one  of  my  best  mesmerisers,  was  set  upon 
him,  and  in  half  an  hour  made  him  insensible.  Considering  the 
man's  age  and  the  size  of  the  tumour,  we  did  not  think  it  worth 
vv'hile  to  attempt  to  save  the  testes,  and  the  operation  was  therefore 
speedily  done.  The  man  never  moved,  and  did  not  awake  till 
after  the  last  artery  was  tied.  Seeing  him  about  to  awake,  he  was 
covered  up,  and  asked  if  he  had  been  any  way  disturbed;  he 
said,  "No."  He  was  then  desired  to  sit  up,  and  show  me  the 
tumour,  as  I  wished  to  examine  it;  he  did  so,  and  actually  put 
his  hands  under  it,  to  raise  the  mass  as  usual ;  his  look  of  amaze- 
ment, on  missing  it,  w-as  something  not  to  be  easily  forgotten. 
Dr.  Ross  published  an  account  of  this  and  other  operations  in 
which  he  assisted  me. 

Oct  22d. — Muffer  Dass,  a  peasant,  aged  40.  He  was  made 
insensible  on  the  third  day  of  mesmerising;  and  in  the  presence 
of  Mr.  Reid,  the  collector,  Mr.  Wauchope,  the  magistrate,  and 


140  OPERATIONS  DURING 

Mr.  Bennett,  superintendent  of  Excise,  I  removed  a  tumour 
weighing  eight  pounds,  without  the  man  being  disturbed ;  al- 
though the  operation  was  tedious,  from  the  testes  having  con- 
tracted adhesions.  I  succeeded  in  saving  all  the  organs ;  he 
awoke  soon  after  it  was  all  over,  said  he  felt  no  pain,  and  was 
quite  ready  to  be  operated  on  now. 

Oct.  25th. — Gooroochuan  Shah,  a  shop-keeper,  aged  40.  He 
has  got  a  "monster  tumour,"  which  prevents  him'  from  moving; 
its  great  weight,  and  his  having  used  it  for  a  writing-desk  for 
many  years,  has  pressed  it  into  its  present  shape.  His  pulse  is 
weak,  and  his  feet  oedematous,  which  will  make  it  very  hazardous 
to  attempt  its  removal ;  but  with  such  an  appendage  life  is  literally 
a  burthen.  He  became  insensible  on  the  fourth  day  of  mesmer- 
ising, and  was  drawn  with  the  mattress  to  the  end  of  the  bed 
(my  usual  mode  of  proceedings:)  two  men  then  held  up  the 
tumour  in  a  sheet,  pulling  it  forward  at  the  same  time,  and,  in 
the  presence  of  Mr.  Bennett,  I  removed  it  by  a  circular  incision, 
expedition  being  his  only  safety.  The  rush  of  venous  blood 
was  great,  but  fortunately  soon  arrested ;  and,  after  tying  the 
last  vessel,  the  mattress  was  again  pulled  back  upon  the  bed  with 
him  upon  it,  and  at  this  moment  he  awoke.  The  loss  of  blood 
had  been  so  great  that  he  immediately  fell  into  a  fainting  state, 
and  it  took  a  good  while  to  remove  him.  On  recovering  he 
said  that  he  awoke  while  the  mattress  was  being  pulled  back,  and 
that  nothing  had  disturbed  him.  The  tumour  weighed  eighty 
pounds,  and  is  probably  the  largest  ever  removed  from  the  human 
body.  I  think  it  extremely  likely  that  if  the  circulation  had  been 
hurried  by  pain  and  struggling,  or  if  the  shock  to  the  system 
had  been  increased  by  bodily  and  mental  anguish,  the  man  would 
have  bled  to  death,  or  never  have  rallied  from  the  effects  of  the 
operation.  But  the  sudden  loss  of  blood  was  all  he  had  to  con- 
tend against ;  and,  though  in  so  weak  a  condition,  he  has  sur- 
mounted this,  and  gone  on  very  well. 

Dec.  I  St. — Has  been  allowed  to  go  home  at  his  own  request: 
the  wound  is  filling  up  slowly,  for  want  of  integument. 

Oct.  27Lh. — Rammiahun  Sunokur,  a  jeweller,  aged  44,  has  got 
a  large  tumour.  He  became  insensible  on  the  fifth  day,  and  I  re- 
moved the  tumour  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Wauchope  and  Mr. 
Bennett.  The  bleeding  was  violent,  and  the  testes  adherent  to 
cicatrices  from  burnings :  I  was  therefore  obliged  to  sacrifice 
them.  About  the  middle  of  the  operation  he  gave  a  cry,  but  did 
not  awake  till  twenty  minutes  after  it  was  over,  and  then  said. 


SCROTAL   ELEPHANTIASIS,  I4I 

that  he  wanted  something  to  eat,  as  he  felt  empty.  He  said  that 
he  had  slept  well,  and  was  not  disturbed  in  any  way ;  that  he 
was  now  ready  to  be  cut,  but  begged  to  be  allowed  to  get  his  din- 
ner first.  The  mass  of  flesh  was  now  shown  to  him,  which  he 
recognised  with  amazement ;  thanked  the  gods,  and  said  it  would 
weigh  twenty-four  pounds,  probably, — it  weighed  thirty  pounds. 

Nov.  2d. — Gobinchunder  Lane,  aged  32,  a  shop-keeper,  and 
a  very  fine  handsome  man,  is  afflicted  with  the  same  disease. 

At  three  o'clock  yesterday,  when  passing  the  hospital,  I  was 
told  that  another  man  had  come  with  a  tumour,  since  my  morning 
visit,  and  had  been  entranced.  I  went  to  see  him,  and  found 
him  still  in  a  fit  state  to  be  operated  on,  although  he  had  been 
asleep  for  four  hours — to  be  mesmerised  again  tomorrow  at  ten 
o'clock. 

Nov.  3d.  The  operation  was  performed  to-day,  at  twelve 
o'clock,  in  the  presence  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bradbury,  and  Mr.  Ben- 
nett. As  the  bleeding  was  moderate,  and  the  man  perfectly 
passive,  I  tried  to  save  all  the  parts,  although  the  testes  adhered 
to  the  sides  of  the  tumour,  which  were  very  thick.  It  was  twenty 
minutes  before  all  was  over:  not  a  sign  of  life  appeared,  and  the 
organs  were  all  saved. 

Before  commencing,  I  put  his  arm  erect  in  the  air  as  an 
"oudanometcr:"  it  never  even  trembled,  was  quite  stiflf  at  the 
end  of  the  operation,  and  had  to  be  taken  down.  He  awoke  just 
as  the  mattress  was  readjusted,  and  said,  "It  is  done!"  Being 
asked  how  he  knew,  he  said,  by  seeing  me  bloody,  and  the  peo- 
ple all  standing  round,  but  that  he  had  felt  nothing,  and  had 
little  pain  now.     The  excrescence  weighed  twenty-five  pounds, 

Nov.  1 6th. — Ameer  ISIullick,  a  coolie,  aged  50,  has  a  large 
tumour  of  twenty  years'  growth.  He  was  mesmerised  for  the 
second  time  to-day,  and,  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  S.  Palmer,  and 
Dr.  Scott,  I  dissected  out,  and  saved  all  the  organs.  The  opera- 
tion was  tedious,  on  account  of  old  adhesions ;  but  he  did  not 
awake  till  some  time  after  it  was  finished,  and  then  said,  that 
nothing  had  disturbed  him.     The  mass  weighed  thirty  pounds, 

Nov.  i8th. — Bungsee,  a  peasant,  aged  55,  has  a  tumour  which 
weighed  twenty-eight  pounds,  when  cut  off,  and  has  existed  for 
nine  years.  He  was  entranced  on  the  second  day,  and  I  remioved 
it  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Russell,  Judge  of  Ilooghly,  Major  Smith, 
H.  M.'s  9th  Regiment,  Dr.  Scott,  and  Captain  Smythe,  of  the  En- 


142  THE  MESMERIC  TRANCE. 

giiieers.  I  found  all  the  organs,  and  showed  that  the  testes  were 
atrophied  and  useless;  they  were  therefore  sacrificed,  and  the 
man  never  moved,  or  showed  a  sign  of  life,  till  ten  minutes  after 
the  operation,  and  he  then  said,  that  he  was  quite  ready  to  be 
operated  upon. 

In  concluding  this  practical  part  of  the  subject,  I  beg  to  state, 
that  I  have  seen  no  bad  consequences  whatever  ensue  from  per- 
sons being  operated  on  in  the  Mesmeric  trance.  Cases  have  oc- 
curred in  which  no  pain  was  felt,  even  subsequent  to  the  opera- 
tion, and  the  wounds  healed  by  the  first  intention ;  and  in  the  rest 
I  have  seen  no  indication  of  any  injurious  consequences  to  the 
constitution.  On  the  contrary,  it  appears  to  me  to  have  been 
saved,  and  that  less  constitutional  disturbance  has  followed  than 
under  ordinary  circumstances. 

In  my  early  operations,  I  availed  myself  of  the  first  fit  of 
insensibility,  not  knowing  whether  I  could  command  it  back  at 
pleasure ;  and  when  the  coma  is  deep  enough  on  the  first  occasion, 
it  is  probably  best  for  the  patient  that  it  should  be  taken  advantage 
of,  as  the  fewer  liberties  we  take  with  Nature  the  better,  the  rule 
being  never  to  do  more  than  enough.     But  if  the  trance  is  not 
profound  the  first  time,  the  surgeon  may  safely  calculate  on  its 
being  so  the  next,  and,  when  operating  in  public,  it  is  prudent  to 
take  the  precaution  of  a  preliminary  trance  or  two.     I  have  al- 
ready said,  that  flexibility  of  the  limbs,  till  moved,  and  their  re- 
maining rigid  in  any  position  we  leave  them  in,  is  characteristic 
of  the  trance:  but  there  are  exceptions,  and  these  are  equally 
diagnostic  and  to  be  depended  upon.     It  sometimes  happens  that 
the  limbs  become  rigid  as  they  lie,  and,  on  bending  them,  they 
are  not  passive  and  plastic,  as  in  the  first  kind  of  catalepsy,  but 
the  muscles  always  tend  towards  a  spasmodic  extension  of  the 
limbs :  at  other  times,  there  is  a  complete  relaxation  of  the  whole 
muscular  system,  and  the  arms  and  legs  can  be  tossed  about  with- 
out resistance,  like  those  of  a  person  just  dead.     The  eyes  are 
usually  closed,  but  the  eyelids  are  sometimes  seen  a  little  sepa- 
rated, or  half  open  and  tremulous  ;  and  the  eye  is  even  wide  open, 
fixed,  and  the  pupil  dilated.     On  one  occasion,  having  ordered 
a  man  to  be  entranced,  I  returned  in  two  hours,  and  was  told 
by  my  assistant  that  he  was  not  affected  :  I  went  to  see,  and  found 
him  with  half  open  eyes,  quivering  eye-lids,  and  trembling  hands. 
I  immediately  said  the  man  was  ready,  and,  without  testing  his 
condition  farther,  performied  on  him  a  tedious,  but  painless,  opera- 
tion. 


OPERATIONS  DURING  THE  MESMERIC  TRANCE.  143 

I  also  wish  to  remark,  that  I  have  seen  no  indication  of  con- 
gestion of  blood  on  the  brain ;  the  circulation,  while  my  patients 
were  in  the  trance,  being  natural,  like  that  of  a  sleeping  person. 
Those  I  operate  upon  appear  to  escape  the  stimulating  stage 
of  the  mesmeric  influence  altogether,  and  to  pass  at  once  from 
life  to  temporary  death;  and  this  I  am  disposed  to  attribute  to 
the  concentrated  uninterrupted  manner  in  which  the  power  is 
applied ;  as  soon  as  it  is  felt,  there  is  no  time  given  to  the  system 
to  rally  round  the  first  impression,  and  it  succumbs,  without  a 
struggle,  to  the  constraining  influence.  Some  patients,  when 
suddenly  awoke,  say  that  their  vision  is  hazy,  and  their  heads 
light,  but  I  take  this  to  arise  from  the  in^perfectly  recovered  sensi- 
bility of  the  brain  and  organs  of  sense,  which  are  not  at  once 
roused  up  to  the  full  possession  of  their  waking  powers;  just  as 
is  seen  in  persons  suddenly  aroused  from  profound  natural  sleep. 
That  the  mesmeric  torpor  of  the  nerves  and  brain  does  not  arise 
from  sanguine  congestion,  is  often  strikingly  and  beautifully 
illustrated  by  the  first  actions  of  persons  suddenly  awoke  from 
the  trance.  They  open  their  eyes  wide,  and  at  the  same  moment 
their  faculties  are  restored,  but  it  is  seen  that  the  pupil  is  dilated, 
and  insensible  to  light :  this  they  also  immediately  become  aware 
of;  they  know  that  their  eyes  are  open,  and  that  they  ought  to  see, 
but  do  not.  The  thought  fills  them  with  horror,  and,  with  a  fear- 
ful cry,  they  bury  their  faces  in  their  hands,  like  persons  struck 
blind  by  lightning ;  but  this  soon  passes  oflf,  and  the  retina  recov- 
ers its  sensibility,  by  a  little  rubbing  of  the  eyes. 

For  any  person  to  sec  this,  or  even  hear  of  it  from  a  credible 
quarter,  and  still  talk  of  imposture,  is  to  convict  himself  of  an 
incurable  moral  blindness,  which  it  would  be  folly  to  atternpt  to 
dissipate  by  experiment  and  reasoning :— "none  are  so  blind  as 
those  who  cC'o«7  see." 

The  dreadful  shock  given  to  the  mind  untlcr  such  circum- 
stances, or  when  a  somnambulist  awakens  and  finds  himself  per- 
haps standing  naked  among  strangers  (an  experiment  I  have 
often  made,)  is  a  trial  of  the  nerves,  to  which  it  would  be  very 
imprudent,  and  unsafe,  to  subject  any  but  such  singularly  im- 
passive beings  as  my  patients :— sometimes,  however,  it  is  too 
much  for  the  nerves  of  a  cooly  even.  In  highly  nervous  and 
irritable  constitutions  the  eflfects  might  be  most  disastrous  both 
to  mind  and  body ;  and  I  would  not  dare  to  take  such  liberties  with 
European  temperaments.  This,  and  the  dangers  and  incon- 
veniences of  inducing  the  "Mesmeric  Disease,"  by  practising  on 


144  OPERATIONS   DURING    THE    MESMERIC   TRANCE. 

the  system  more  than  is  necessary  for  the  cure  of  disease,  appear 
to  me  to  be  the  real  dangers  to  be  avoided  in  the  use  of  Mesmerism 
as  a  remedy. 

I  am  now  able  to  say  from  experience,  that  debiUty  of  the 
nervous  system  predisposes  to  the  easy  reception  of  the  mesmeric 
influence ;  and  I  argue  favourably  of  the  patient's  powers  of  sub- 
mission, when  I  recognise  in  him  the  languid,  listless  air  that 
characterises  functional  debility  of  the  nerves. 

As  I  never  have  attempted,  and  never  will  attempt,  to  mes- 
merise people  in  health,  I  cannot  speak  from  my  own  experi- 
ence as  to  their  mesmeric  sensibility ;  but  we  are  assured  by  the 
best  authorities  that  m.any  persons  in  health  can  be  subdued,  and 

my  experiments  go  to  support  this.     My  patient  Mrs.  had 

not  a  toothache  even  when  she  was  mesmerised,  in  order  to  pre- 
pare her  for  the  dentist ;  and  many  others  suffered  only  from  some 
local  complaint,  that  did  not  apparently  impair  the  powers  of  life. 
The  fact  is  sufficiently  established ;  and  experimenting  on  the 
healthy  ought  to  be  discouraged,  as  it  is  only  undermining  healthy 
constitutions  for  no  possible  advantage.  The  artificial  disease 
is  not  so  transitory'  or  light  a  matter  as  it  seems  to  be  reckoned 
by  many  Mesmerisers,  who  go  about  upsetting  the  nerves  of 
every  one  they  can  lay  hands  on.  In  proof  of  this  I  may  men- 
tion, that  after  prisoners  have  been  working  on  the  roads  for 
two  or  three  months,  I  have  found  them  still  as  much  under  my 
command  as  ever. 

It  is  proper  that  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  beg  to  be  mes- 
merised for  fun  should  know  this ;  and  then  they  will  probably 
choose  some  other  kind  of  amusement. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Curiosities  of  Mesmerism. — Unsatisfactory^  Nature  of  Public  Ex- 
hibitions.— Apology  for  giving  one. — Account  of  it  by  a  Vis- 
itor.— The  Modes  in  which  the  Mesmeric  Fluid  can  be  trans- 
mitted.— //  acts  at  great  Distances. — Is  absorbed  by  Water. — 
Can  pass  through  a  IVall. — Final  Experiments. 

My  original  intention  was  to  confine  myself  strictly  to  an 
examination  of  the  medical  pretentions  of  Mesmerism,  and  to 
eschew  all  but  the  practical  part  at  present,  and  thus  open  the 
minds  of  men  to  a  reception  of  new  truths,  by  the  key  of  self- 
interest.  Not  that  I  was,  by  any  means,  indifferent  to  the 
philosophic  and  extra-professional  bearings  of  the  subject,  but 
because  I  saw  that  the  gross  and  palpable  bodily  phenomena, 
even,  were  more  than  the  public  stomach  could  bear,  and  I  did 
not  intend  to  serve  up  all  my  mesmeric  stores,  till  the  public  had 
digested  my  first  course  of  facts  that  cannot  be  denied. 

But  accident,  if  it  does  not  determine,  generally  shapes  our 
actions;  and  (as  in  my  accidental  rccontre  with  somnambulism) 
I  have  been  driven,  by  the  force  of  circumstances,  out  of  the 
prudent  mesmeric  course,  Vv'hich  I  had  resolved  to  follow. 

But  as  the  "utile"  has  not  been  sacrificed  to  the  "duke/'  I  hope 
to  be  pardoned  by  the  stern  utilitarian  reader  for  devoting  a  chap- 
ter to  the  "Curiosities  of  Mesmerism." 

Knowing  the  worthlesness  of  public  exhibitions  for  effecting 
a  general  conversion  to  the  truth  of  Mesmerism,  I  was  very 
averse  to  subject  it  to  this  unsatisfactory  ordeal,  and  determined 
not  to  be  made  a  showman  of.  All  performers  in  public  are  not 
unnaturally  suspected  to  take  insurances  from  Art,  in  the  event 
of  Nature  failing  them;  success  on  such  occasions  being  thought 
to  be  more  indispensable  than  truth.  Besides  this  natural  distrust 
of  public  displays,  the  really  careful  and  intelligent  observer  has 
not  the  necessary  means  of  close  inspection,  required  to  convince 
him  beyond  a  doubt,  and  the  mere  sight-seer  is  only  bewildered, 
and  declares  it  to  be  "all  humbug,"  because  all  beyond  his  com- 
prehension. But  in  our  present  state  of  ignorance  it  is  as  absurd 
to  pretend  to  set  limits  to  the  possible  in  any  unexplored  regions 
of    Nature,    as     it    woald    be     for    the    inhabitants     of    an 

145 


146  CURIOSITIES  OF   MESMERISM. 

ant-hill  in  the  plains  of  Bengal  to  decide  authorita- 
tively against  the  possible  existence  of  the  Himalayahs. 
I  had  acted  with  considerable  consistency  for  some  months,  in 
confining  my  public  mesmeric  experiments  to  purely  professional 
subjects ;  but  a  very  general  curiosity  was  excited,  and  I  was  at 
length  requested,  from  a  high  quarter,  to  gratify  some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Government-House  with  an  especial  mesmeric 
"Seance."  This  I  could  hardly  have  refused  without  appearing 
churlish ;  and  it  would  have  been  said  that  I  shunned  the  light, 
because  my  proceedings  would  not  bare  inspection.  I  therefore 
thought  it  best  to  submit  to  a  necessary  evil,  and  make  the  most 
of  it,  by  converting  an  exclusive  party  into  as  general  and  pro- 
miscuous a  meeting  as  possible.  It  was  therefore  pretty  generally 
made  known,  that  all  the  curious  might  be  gratified  for  the  first 
and  last  time  on  the  29th  of  July.  Accordingly  on  that  day  I 
had  the  honour  of  meeting  a  large  assemblage  of  Europeans  and 
natives  at  my  hospitals !  and  as  a  letter  appeared  in  the  news- 
papers the  day  after,  giving  an  account  of  all  that  was  done  and 
seen,  I  here  insert  it,  as  it  was  generally  allowed  to  give  a  correct 
account  of  all  that  happened,  and  mentions  the  points  I  wish  to 
make  some  observations  on.  Six  medical  men  were  of  the  party, 
and  one  of  them  publicly  acknowledged  the  faithfulness  of  the 
report  sent  to  the  newspapers. 

PUBLIC  DISPLAY  OF  MESMERISM  AT   HOOGHLY. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Englishman. 

"Sir, — I  esteem  myself  fortunate  in  having  been  present  at 
an  exhibition  of  the  powers  of  Mesmerism,  given  by  Dr.  Esdaile, 
yesterday,  to  satisfy  public  curiosity,  as  it  is  the  last  opportunity 
of  the  kind  likely  to  occur,  Dr.  E.  having  for  this  once  only,  con- 
sented to  mesmerise  for  non-professional  purposes. 

"The  party  was  very  numerous,  two  steamers  having  brought 
the  curious  from  Barrackpore  and  Calcutta ;  and  there  was  a 
large  assemblage  of  the  European  and  Native  residents  of 
Hooghly  and  Chinsurah. 

"The  hospital  we  first  went  to  was  unfortunately  small,  and 
the  room  too  much  crowded  for  one  to  see  all  that  was  done ;  but 
what  escaped  me  will  be  supplied  by  others,  I  hope,  as  it  is  de- 
sirable that  all  the  proceedings  of  the  day  should  be  clearly  laid 
before  the  public. 

"On  entering  the  hospital,  we  saw  two  men  extended  on  beds. 
with  their  native  mesmerisers  hanging  over  them ;  but  I  had  no 


CURIOSITIES  OF   MESMERISM.  147 

time  to  examine  their  process,  as  Dr.  Esdaile  proccedd  to  busi- 
ness. He  said  that  these  two  men  were  now  under  the  mesmeric 
influence,  to  what  extent  he  did  not  know ;  that  they  required  to 
be  operated  on,  and  that  he  would  do  so,  if  they  were  found  to 
be  insensible. 

"The  first  man  awoke  on  being  pulled,  and  called  upon  by 
name ;  so  he  would  not  do.  The  other,  an  elderly  man,  the  Doc- 
tor thought  was  in  a  favourable  state,  and  he  immediately  did 
what  was  needful ;  it  is  needless  to  say  what,  but  every  one  was 
sure  that  it  was  very  painful.  The  first  cuts  did  not  seem  to 
annoy  the  man,  but  he  awoke,  and  cried  out  before  the  operation 
w-as  finished,  which  was  a  couple  of  minutes  I  suppose.  The  mes- 
meriser  \va.s  desired  to  continue  his  efforts,  and  I  saw  him  breathe 
on  the  head,  and  place  both  hands  at  the  same  time  on  the  pit  of 
the  stomach ;  Dr.  E.  explaining  that  he  often  succeeded  in  restor- 
ing the  trance,  although  broken  to  this  degree.  And  sure  enough 
in  a  few  minutes,  the  man  became  perfectly  senseless,  to  all  ap- 
pearance, and  every  body  w^as  allowed  to  examine  and  experiment 
upon  him  for  the  whole  time  we  remained  here ;  and  as  I  believe 
there  were  several  medical  men  present,  making  active  observa- 
tions, I  hope  that  they  will  favour  us  with  the  results  of  their 
investigation.  We  were  now  agreebly  surprised  by  the  apparition 
of  two  lady  philosophers,  and  the  Doctor  had  to  give  them  his 
attention,  and  certainly  made  them  an  offer  they  will  not  receive 
every  day,  for  he  begged  them  to  choose  whether  they  would 
prefer  to  see  a  woman  made  senseless  by  mjcsmcric  water,  or 
through  the  wall.  The  wall  was  declared  for,  and  the  woman's 
face  turned  to  it  sitting  upon  her  bed. 

"The  Doctor  disappeared,  and  what  he  did,  I  know  not,  but 
some  went  to  see:  whatever  it  was,  the  woman  soon  began  to 
nod,  and  then  fell  down  on  her  bed.  her  eyelids  twinkling  in  a 
strange  way,  and  she  paid  no  attention  to  what  was  said  to  her. 
Dr.  E.  now'returned  from  his  ambuscade,  having  been  absent  for 
about  five  minutes,  and  pointing  to  the  quivering  eyelids,  said, 
that  this  was  very  characteristic  of  the  mesmeric  state,  and  that 
it  v^^ould  be  seen  that  this  woman  could  not  open  her  eyes  without 
his  assistance.  After  blowing  in  her  eyes  to  restore  her  senses, 
she  was  desired,  and  then  ordered,  to  open  her  eyes,  and  strained 
violently  to  do  so ;  but  the  eyelids  looked  as  if  gummed  together, 
and  she  could  not  separate  them.  She  then,  on  being  urged  still 
farther,  pulled  the  lids  asunder,  but  they  instantly  closed  again. 
Dr.  E.  now  rubbed  her  eyes,  and  blew  into  them,  and  she  imme- 


148  CURIOSITIES  OF  MESMERISM. 

diately  awoke,  but  in  a  delirious  state,  and  arose  to  walk,  mut- 
tering and  staggering  about  in  a  singular  manner ;  and  on  being 
taken  back  to  bed,  she  fell  into  a  deep  sleep,  which  usually  lasted 
four  or  five  hours,  we  were  told. 

"We  were  next  addressed  by  Dr.  E.,  who  said  that  he  would 
now  show  us  that  the  mesmeric  power  was  not  so  rare  and  singu- 
lar a  gift  as  was  imagined,  but  a  general  law  of  Nature,  which 
might  be  evolved  by  most  people  who  took  the  necessary  degree 
of  trouble ;  and  to  prove  this,  he  would  desire  one  of  his  hos- 
pital assistants  to  mesmerise  a  woman  across  the  room,  a  distance 
of  thirty  feet,  I  should  think.  The  woman  was  placed  with  her 
back  to  the  wall,  and  a  young  man  placed  himself  before  her,  at 
the  other  end  of  the  room.  In  a  very  short  time  she  acted  exactly 
like  the  first  woman ;  her  eyes  began  to  twinkle ;  she  swayed  from 
side  to  side,  and  then  fell  down  in  a  trance,  from  which  no  one 
could  awake  her — not  even  the  doctors,  wdio  again  examined  the 
man  who  had  been  operated  upon  before  leaving,  and  no  one  suc- 
ceeded, I  believe,  in  extracting  a  sign  of  sensibility. 

"We  were  now  requested  to  go  to  another  hospital,  where  there 
was  more  space  for  the  company.  We  found  it  to  be  the  Jail 
Hospital,  where  there  was  ample  accommodation  for  all, — the 
party  having  tailed  off  considerably. 

"Dr.  E.  said  that  he  would  attempt  to  show,  in  a  more  strik- 
ing manner,  the  great  distance  at  which  the  mesmeric  influence 
could  be  felt.  A  man  was  brought  in,  and  made  to  sit  on  the  floor 
with  his  back  to  the  wall,  and  the  Doctor  sat  down  opposite  him 
at  the  other  end  of  the  room,  which  I  afterwards  measured,  and 
found  to  be  eighty  feet  long, 

"We  all  congregated  at  the  other  end  to  watch  the  effects  of 
this  'Long  Range,'  and  I  heard  some  good  jokes  cut,  about  keep- 
ing out  of  the  line  of  fire,  and  the  danger  of  the  gun  bursting,  &c. 

"The  Doctor  had  proved  his  gun,  however,  I  suppose,  as  he 
coolly  and  steadily  took  aim  at  his  man,  keeping  his  hands  ex- 
tended, and  moving  them  across  his  face,  and  from  head  to  foot. 
I  could  distinguish  no  sensible  effects  for  ten  minutes,  and  I 
imagine  he  became  impatient,  as  he  took  a  look  at  his  opponent 
through  an  opera  glass,  and  then  desired  him  to  rise,  to  judge  of 
the  effects,  I  presume.  The  man  obeyed  with  great  difficulty, 
and  his  tormentor,  taking  another  look  through  his  glass,  appeared 
to  be  satisfied  with  his  work,  as  he  cried  out  to  us  to  prevent  him 
from  falling,  and  not  unnecessarily ;  for  the  patient  trembled 
violently,  and  had  to  be  supported.     The  operator  now  bid  us 


CURIOSITIES  OF  MESMERISM.  149 

move  his  arms,  and  seeing  thcni  remain  in  any  position  they  were 
left  in,  declared  him  entranced,  and  being  asked  if  we  might 
now  touch  him^  he  called  out — 'Oh,  yes !  do  what  you  please.'  He 
now  fell  into  the  Doctors'  hands  principally,  and  I  hope  they 
will  report  the  results  of  their  criticism.  I  saw,  however,  that 
the  man  was  quite  insensible,  and  his  limbs  cataleptic;  and  that 
no  one  could  excite  his  attention.  Dr.  Esdaile  sat  all  this  time 
alone,  at  the  other  end  of  the  room,  apparently  enjoying,  through 
his  glass,  the  mischief  and  perplexity  he  had  created.  After  we 
had  extracted  all  we  could  out  of  this  mesmeric  condition  of  the 
body,  Dr.  E.  joined  us,  and  set  about  restoring  him  to  some  de- 
gree of  sensibility  by  rubbing  and  blowing  in  his  eyes.  He  now 
half  opened  his  eyes,  and  followed  the  Doctor  when  led,  into  the 
middle  of  the  room ;  but  like  a  drunken  man,  and  care  had  to 
be  taken,  lest  he  should  fall.  Dr.  E.  said  that  he  would  now  con- 
vert him  into  an  imitating  machine,  with  only  sense  enough  left 
to  hear  and  obey  his  orders,  without  the  power  of  answering  ques- 
tions; reflection  being  quite  dormant.  Having  cleared  up  his 
brain  a  little  more,  and  attracted  his  attention  by  repeating  the 
key  note  several  times,  the  performance  proceeded.  He  was  or- 
dered to  do  what  the  Doctor  did,  and  certainly  obeyed  his  orders 
most  exactly,  throwing  himself,  on  the  instant,  into  every  atti- 
tude of  the  mesmerist,  and  the  very  scientific  manner  in  which 
he  took  a  landsman's  'sight'  did  great  credit  to  his  astronomical 
powers ;  no  omnibus  cad  could  take  the  longitude  of  an  obnoxious 
passenger  in  a  more  artist-like  manner.  His  mode  of  cocking 
his  eye  and  of  applying  his  first  digit  to  the  side  of  his  nose,  was 
also  much  admired,  and  proved  that  he  was  'wide  awake,'  as  some 
thought,  all  the  time. 

"His  instructor  next  ordered  him  to  repeat  whatever  he  said, 
which  the  pupil  obeyed  by  repeating  the  order. 

"He  now  shovv^ed  himself  to  be  a  patriotic  and  loyal  British 
subject,  by  the  animated  and  hearty  manner  in  which  he  repeated, 
'Ye  Mariners  of  England,'  and  sang,  'God  save  the  King.'  This 
was  followed  by  "Hey  diddle  diddle,'  in  capital  style.  And  here 
a  curious  incident  occurred ;  the  spectators  could  not  restrain 
their  laughter,  in  which  the  singer  joined  in  full  chorus,  and 
some  said,  'He  can't  help  laughing  himself.'  Upon  which  Dr. 
Esdaile  stopped  his  performance,  and  pointed  out  that  they  were 
labouring  under  a  mistake  who  supposed  that  he  was  laughing; 
the  fact  being  that  he  was  only  imitating  them,  or  rather  Dr.  E., 
who  was  laughing  'Gorge  dcployef  and  this,  I  think,  must  have 


150  CURIOSITIES  OF  MESMERISM. 

been  evident  to  all.  But  the  farce  was  nearly  converted  into  a 
tragedy ;  for  on  being  ordered  to  show  how  the  natives  fight  with 
sticks,  be  began  very  skilfully ;  but  on  bending  forward  to  make  a 
blow,  he  pitched  head  foremost  into  Dr.  E.'s  breast,  and  both 
rolled  upon  the  floor.  This  actor's  powers  were  clearly  exhausted, 
and  he  was  left  in  an  intense  trance  on  the  floor. 

"It  was  intimated  that  the  next  scene  would  be  'A  Mesmeric 
interview;  or  the  dangerous  efifect  of  getting  on  the  wrong  side 
of  the  wall;'  and  two  men  were  brought  in,  and  placed  one  in 
each  corner  of  the  room.  Two  lads  were  then  despatched  to 
work  the  will  of  the  magician,  who  remained  with  us.  This  time, 
I  was  resolved  to  see  both  sides  of  the  wall,  and  going  into  the 
adjacent  room,  I  saw  the  two  youths  standing  with  their  fore- 
heads against  the  wall,  opposite  the  men,  and  holding  their  hands 
extended  under  their  mouths.  In  five  minutes,  the  lads  were 
desired  to  desist,  and  on  returning  to  the  large  room,  I  saw  the 
men  had  been  turned  round,  and  were  standing  perfectly  rigid 
in  their  corners  with  their  arm^s  crucified  against  the  wall,  and 
in  this  transaction  Dr.  E.  was  no  more  concerned  than  I  was.  The 
Doctors  again  took  possession  of  the  victims,  and  I  had  after- 
wards an  opportunity  of  taking  a  pull,  and  giving  a  pinch,  but 
took  nothing  by  my  motion  any  more  than  the  rest, 

"Our  entertainer  then  proclaimed  that  the  concluding  piece 
would  be  the  sleeping  water,  or  the  'veritable  eau  merveillense.' 
He  said  that  when  we  saw  its  effects,  he  hoped  that  he  would 
be  justified  for  not  showing  in  public  how  it  was  made,  as  it  was 
not  fit  for  the  public  to  know,  but  that  he  would  be  happy  to 
explain  the  process  for  the  purposes  of  medicine  and  philosophy. 
To  guard  against  all  imposition,  two  Clergymen,  and  two  Doc- 
tors, were  deputed  to  see  the  water  charmed,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes half-a-dozen  lads  entered,  each  carrying  a  gallipot  in  his 
hands,  the  contents  of  which  (certainly,  to  all  appearance,  water) 
he  administered  to  eight  men  who  were  brought  from  the  hospital. 

"This  was  a  bold  undertaking,  for  the  people  were  scarcely 
permitted  to  lie  down  before  they  were  cuffed  and  kicked  unmer- 
cifully, many  of  the  company  making  a  vigorous  use  of  their 
understanding  in  this  way. 

"A  few  minutes  comparative  quiet  having  been  procured  to 
some  of  the  sleeping  candidates,  the  result  was,  that  four  out  of 
eight  were  found  to  be  cataleptic,  and  several  were  converted  into 
somnambulists. 

"I  have  thus  endeavoured  to  give  an  account  of  what  was 


cuKiosrni£s  of  micsmeuism.  151 

done  and  seen  by  all ;  but  in  so  large  a  field  of  observation,  much 
must  have  escaped  me,  and  each  person  will  have  something 
distinctive  and  characteristic  to  narrate.  The  medical  men  seemed 
to  be  wide  awake,  and  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity; 
and  if  they  have  not  made  up  their  minds,  it  is  for  no  want  of 
subjects.  Trusting  that  they  will  give  the  professional  details, 
which  I  cannot  supply, 
-  "I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

"A  Mesmeric  Visitor. 
"Calcutta,  30/ /z  July,   1845." 

It  is  not  merely  a  matter  of  curiosity  to  ascertain  whether  the 
mesmeric  fluid  can  traverse  air,  and  denser  substances,  to  what  dis- 
tance it  can  be  transmitted,  and  what  circumstances  assist  or 
retard  its  operation. — These  are  all  questions  of  great  interest  to 
the  Natural  Philosopher,  as,  by  ascertaining  them,  he  will  prob- 
ably detect  analogies  and  affinities  between  the  mesmeric  fluid 
and  other  better  known  natural  powers,  and  perhaps  prove  that 
it  is  only  a  modification  of  an  inorganic  agent,  or  a  combination 
of  several,  to  meet  the  wants  of  animal  life;  and  the  philosopher 
will  naturally  look  to  the  physician  for  his  facts,  in  a  matter  with 
/fl^hich  the  latter  is  most  conversant. 

/  If  there  is  a  transmission  of  some  vital  product  from  one  per- 
/  son  to  another,  it  must  pass  undeteriorated  through  the  air,  for 
!  the  bodies  are  not  in  contact,  and  the  effect,  in  the  first  instance, 
^v^  can  be  produced  at  a  distance  of  an  inch  or  several  feet,  and  the 
intervals  can  be  increased  to  a  wonderful  degree  in  proportion  to 
the  sensibility  developed  by  frequent  trials.  An  intervening  inch 
of  air  between  the  two  bodies  being  proved  to  be  no  obstacle,  it  is 
in  vain  to  dogmatise  about  the  possible  extent  of  the  mesmeric 
sphere  of  action ;  if  we  wish  to  ascertain  this,  it  must  be  by  actual 
experiment.  In  acting  upon  persons,  through  the  air,  without 
any  gesticulations,  and  by  the  agency  of  water,  we  can  make  an 
experiment  without  exciting  the  smallest  suspicion,  and  when 
these  are  frequently  successful  in  tirst  trials,  I  should  think  that  it 
must  be  considered  conclusive  proof  of  the  transmissibility  of  the 
mesmeric  fluid  by  these  media.  The  possibility  of  affecting  per- 
sons in  this  way  had  never  been  dreamt  of  by  my  assistants ;  and 
it  is  needless  to  insist  on  the  impossibility  of  my  patients  knowing 
any  thing  about  it ; — in  a  word,  no  human  being  could  divine  my 
intentions  when  I  made  my  first  attempt  to  mesmerise  at  a  dis- 
tance: I  had  not  determined  when  or  how  to  try  it,  and  this  was 


152  CURIOSITIES  OF   MESMERISM. 

decided  by  an  accidental  favourable  opportunity.  In  the  women's 
ward,  there  is  a  row  of  pillars  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  and  it 
happened  one  day  that,  while  leaning  against  the  centre  pillar 
giving  some  orders,  I  saw  that  the  beds  of  the  women  Nobee  and 
Alunga  were  on  either  side  of  me,  in  front,  at  the  distance  of  four 
or  five  yards.  The  women  were  both  sitting  up  in  bed  with  their 
faces  towards,  but  not  looking  at,  me ;  and  I  seized  the  lucky  mo- 
ment to  open  my  masked  battery  upon  them.  I  first  turned  my 
looks  on  Alunga,  and  simply  made  her  the  object  of  my  exclusive 
attention ;  her  eyelids  soon  began  to  quiver,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
she  acted  precisely  in  the  manner  described  by  my  "Mesmeric 
Visitor."  I  then  turned  to  Nobee,  and  she  succeeded  equally  soon 
in  her  zvay,  which  never  partakes  of  excitement ;  she  only  becomes 
lethargic,  and  passes,  at  once,  into  mesmeric  sleep ;  and  this  has 
been  done  subsequently  to  these  and  other  patients,  by  all  kinds 
of  persons,  often  in  my  absence,  and  as  readily  as  by  myself.  The 
experiments  have  been  so  numerous  and  unexceptionable,  that 
I  must  consider  the  transmission  of  the  mesmeric  fluid  through 
a  large  body  of  air  to  be  incontestably  proved.  This  being  the 
case,  the  permeability  of  denser  materials  by  it  might  be  pretty 
confidently  expected;  and  he  must  be  a  person  of  cold  imagina- 
tion, who,  admitting  the  passage  of  the  vital  fluid  through  the 
impassive  air,  yet  stops  short  at  a  -dxill  as  the  "ultima  Thule"  of 
his  mesmeric  belief,  and  declares  all  transmural  agency  to  be 
impossible !  Mineral  magnetism  finds  no  obstacle  to  its  progress 
in  the  grossest  textures,  and  traverses  the  earth  from  pole  to 
pole;  electricity  finds  its  way  as  easily  through  the  walls  of  a 
house  as  through  the  ambient  air ;  and  why  subtile  animal  fluids 
should  not  be  endowed,  in  a  modified  degree,  with  such  qualities, 
I  do  not  understand :  it  seems  they  must  be  conderrmed  to  lose 
their  very  essence  probably,  to  gratify  our  notions  of  the  fitness 
of  things !  But  it  is  in  vain  that  we  presume  to  prescribe  a  course 
to  Nature,  and  hedge  her  round  with  dogmas,  in  order  to  main- 
tain our  infallibility :  the  "Sacred  College"  was  rapidly  revolving 
through  space,  while  its  learned  members  were  constraining  the 
earth  to  remain  a  fixture  by  a  "Senatus  consultum,"  as  had  been 
determined  by  the  wisdom  of  the  schools ;  and  the  mesmeric  fluid 
will,  "like  a  chartered  libertine,"  not  only  permeate  the  air,  but 
also  probably  pass  through  walls,  let  its  opponents  oppose  its 
progress  by  what  arguments  they  please.  In  coming  to  this  con- 
clusion, I  only  rely  on  first  trials  also,  and  their  results  have  been 
as  positive  and  striking  as  any  I  have  recorded.    I  have  shown 


CURIOSITIES  OF  MESMERISM.  153 

that  a  person  whose  system  has  been  deeply  imbued  with  the 
mesmeric  action,  will  sometimes  become  entranced  by  merely 
turning  his  face  to  the  wall,  and  leaving  him  quiet  for  a  few  min- 
utes :  all  the  account  that  such  a  mesmeric  victim  can  give  of  him- 
self is,  that  he  feels  a  coldness  and  numbness  in  the  limbs,  a  sense 
of  weight  in  the  back  of  the  head,  and  an  unconquerable  heavi- 
ness of  the  eyelids  before  he  goes  to  sleep.  But  I  can  hardly 
imagine  that  this  spontaneous  mesmeric  paroxysm  took  place  in 
all  the  numerous  first  trials  we  have  made  with  new  subjects,  who 
had  never  been  placed  against  a  wall  before,  and  to  whom  this 
position  could  not  therefore  be  a  source  of  excitement.  I  ac- 
knowledge the  possibility  of  some  of  these  being  cases  of  inde- 
pendent Mesmerism,  as  the  constitution,  to  be  affected  in  this 
manner,  must  be  deeply  tainted ;  and  something  unusual  was  cer- 
tainly done  to  them.  To  solve  this  doubt  effectually,  I  have  of 
late  been  looking  out  for  a  blind  man,  and  one  has  luckily  present- 
ed himself  within  the  last  few  days.  I  have  experimented  on  him 
solely  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the  points  in  question,  more 
particularly  by  the  wall  problem ;  and  if  this  supplemental  evidence 
should  be  still  in  any  part  open  to  objection,  I  shall  be  happy  to 
repeat  the  examination  on  other  blind  men,  till  the  evidence  shall 
be  considered  perfect.  In  the  mean  time,  I  must  declare  myself 
almost  satisfied,  but  hope  that  I  shall  be  the  first  to  change  this 
or  any  other  opinion  here  advanced,  whenever  contradicted  by  new 
facts. 

Dec.  14th. — ^Janoo,  a  blind  prisoner ;  he  has  got  cataracts  in 
both  eyes,  and  can  only  distinguish  light  from  darkness.  I  placed 
him  on  a  stool  before  me  to-day,  and  entranced  him  in  ten  min- 
utes ;  I  then  roused  him  up  a  little,  and  made  him  a  somnambu- 
list ;  he  walked  with  great  difficulty,  and  while  doing  so  said  he 
was  fast  asleep  in  his  bed.  He  very  soon  became  unable  to  sup- 
port himself,  and  fell  into  the  trance,  in  which  he  remained  for 
two  hours. 

Dec.  15th. — When  sitting  in  the  middle  of  the  room  to-day,  I 
went  and  looked  steadily  at  him  from  outside  the  window ;  in 
less  than  ten  minutes  I  knocked  him  on  the  head  and  toes  with 
a  long  bamboo,  and  he  was  quite  insensible.  On  trying  to  make 
him  walk  to-day,  I  found  there  was  a  total  dissolution  of  the  mus- 
cular system ;  when  placed  on  his  feet  he  immediately  sunk  down 
all  in  a  heap,  and  on  trying  to  awake  him  it  brought  on  an 
alarming  fit  of  convulsive  sobbing;  on  being  put  to  bed  it  ceased, 


154  CURIOSITIES  OF   MESMPIRISM. 

but  again  returned  on  my  renewing  attempts  to  awake  him;  he 
slept  for  more  than  two  hours. 

Dec.  i6th. — I  sent  the  Sub-Assistant  Surgeon  to  the  Jail  Hos- 
pital, desiring  him  to  get  the  man  placed  with  his  face  towards 
the  wall,  but  not  touching  it ;  to  take  care  not  to  excite  his  atten- 
tion, and  to  keep  him  engaged  in  conversation.  I  followed,  and 
placed  myself  opposite  him  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall,  leaning 
my  forehead  against  it,  and  extending  my  hands  under  my  mouth. 
In  ten  minutes  I  went  to  see  what  was  done,  and  found  him  con- 
versing in  a  lively  manner  with  my  Assistant :  returned,  and  gave 
him  five  minutes  more ;  went  to  see  again :  found  them  still  talk- 
ing, but  in  about  two  minutes  he  ceased  to  answer,  and  burst 
into  a  fit  of  convulsive  crying :  I  now  pulled  him  by  the  hair,  and 
he  fell  back  like  a  person  just  dead :  slept  for  three  hours. 

Dec.  19th. — Mr.  Samuells,  the  collector  of  Burdwan,  being 
with  me  to-day,  I  took  advantage  of  his  presence  to  give  this 
man  his  first  dose  of  mesmerised  water.  This  was  prepared  in  a 
different  room,  and  sent  to  him  by  a  prisoner  who  usually  ad- 
ministers the  medicine,  and  he  was  ordered  to  give  it  as  such ;  in 
two  or  three  minutes  he  was  completely  insensible. 

Dec.  20th. — To-day  I  saw  him  sitting  in  front  of  the  cook- 
room,  eating  his  dinner,  and  thought  it  a  good  opportunity  to 
observe,  unperceived,  the  extent  of  his  blindness.  The  cook- 
rooms  are  about  a  hundred  yards  long,  and  there  is  a  low  wall  in 
front,  over  which  one  can  look  kneeling :  he  was  near  one  end,  and 
I  entered  at  the  other,  proceeding  till  I  came  opposite  him,  when 
I  carefully  observed  him  over  the  wall.  He  had  nearly  finished 
his  dinner ;  and  all  his  looks  and  actions  convinced  me  that  he  only 
knew  the  difference  of  night  and  day.  After  he  had  washed  his 
hands  and  mouth  he  sat  chirping  in  the  sun,  as  it  was  very  cold, 
and  seemed  to  feel  quite  comfortable;  he  occasionally  called  on 
some  one  by  name,  and,  if  answered,  cracked  a  joke  with  him.  I 
now  left  my  ambush,  and  seated  myself  opposite  to  him  in  the 
open  air  at  the  distance  of  twenty  yards ;  in  about  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  he  raised  one  arm,  rested  his  elbow  on  his  knee,  and 
leant  his  head  on  the  hand ;  immediately  after  he  supported  his 
head  on  both  hands  on  his  knees,  and  swayed  a  little  to  one  side; 
the  inclination  gradually  increased  (he  never  making  an  effort  to 
rectify  it)  till  he  lost  his  balance,  and  fell  head  foremost  into 
the  puddle  of  water  he  had  made  in  washing  himself;  his  atti- 
tude was  not  in  the  smallest  degree  changed,  and  he  looked  like  a 


CURIOSITIES  OF   MESMERISM.  155 

sitting  statue  reversed.    He  was  carried  to  bed ;  awoke  after  three 
hours,  and  asked  how  he  had  got  there. 

Dec.  26th. — I  saw  him  sunning  himself  in  front  of  the  hos- 
pital to-day,  and  seated  myself  on  the  ground  oiJposite  him  at 
the  distance  of  thirty  yards ;  in  less  than  five  minutes  he  leaned  to 
one  side,  and  then  fell  as  if  shot :  slept  for  two  hours. 

From  the  foregoing  facts  it  is  allowable  to  conclude,  I  hope, 
that  Mesmerism  is  a  natural  power  of  the  human  body. 

That  it  atlccts  directly  the  nervous  and  muscular  systems. 

That  in  the  mesmeric  trance  the  most  severe  and  protracted 
surgical  operations  can  be  performed,  without  the  patients  being 
sensible  of  pain. 

That  spasms  and  nervous  pains  often  disappear  before  the 
mesmeric  trance. 

That  it  gives  us  a  complete  command  of  the  muscular  system, 
and  is  therefore  of  great  service  in  restoring  contracted  limbs. 

That  the  chronic  administration  of  Mesmerism  often  acts  as 
a  useful  stimulant  in  functional  debility  of  the  nerves. 

That  as  sleep,  in  the  absence  of  all  pain,  is  the  best  condition  of 
the  system  for  subduing  inflammation,  the  mesmeric  trance  will 
probably  be  found  to  be  a  powerful  remedy  in  local  inflamma- 
tions. 

That  the  imagination  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  iirst  physical 
impression  made  on  the  system  by  Mesmerism,  as  practised  by  me. 

That  it  is  not  necessary  for  the  eyes  to  be  open :  I  always  shut 
them  as  a  source  of  distraction ;  and  blind  men  are  as  readily  mes- 
merised as  others. 

That  water  can  be  charged  with  the  mesmeric  fluid,  and  has  a 
powerful  effect  on  the  system  when  it  has  been  previously  affected. 

That  the  mesmeric  influence  can  be  transmitted  through  the 
air  to  considerable  distances,  and  even  pass  through  dense  ma- 
terials. 


APPENDIX. 


When  speaking  of  Somnambulism,  I  ventured  to  express  my 
belief  that  "Clairvoyance,"  or  the  transference  of  sense,  had  been 
witnessed  in  diseased  states  of  the  body,  and  that,  as  we  can 
imitate  Nature  step  by  step,  by  artificially  producing  Somnam- 
bulism, Catalepsy,  and  a  state  of  the  system  resembling  Hysteria, 
in  which  "Clairvoyance"  has  been  witnessed  as  a  symptom  in  dis- 
ease ;  so  we  might  expect  to  see  this  phenomenon  in  the  analogous 
derangements  of  the  nervous  system  brought  about  by  Mesmerism. 
It  ought  to  be  remembered  that  this  is  one  of  the  wonders  of 
Nature,  and  also,  a  great  rarity  in  art,  and  must  not  be  looked  for, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  in  persons  under  the  influence  of  Mesmer- 
ism. It  has  not  yet  fallen  under  my  observation,  and  from  want 
of  books,  I  could  not  present  the  reader  with  as  many  well-attested 
proofs  of  its  existence  in  Nature  as  was  desirable. 

After  the  foregoing  work  was  finished,  I  fortunately  met 
Professor  Wienholt's  "Lectures  on  Somnambulism,"  and,  as  I 
there  found  all  the  facts  required  to  establish  the  existence  of 
natural  Clairvoyance,  and,  in  the  notes  of  the  learned  translator, 
Mr.  Colquhoun,  a  parallel  array  of  these  "stubborn  things"  in 
proof  of  the  truth  of  IMesmeric  Clairvoyance,  I  hope  the  reader 
will  be  glad  to  have  this  additional  aid  to  his  judgment  in  coming 
to  a  decision.  Professor  Wienholt,  in  describing  natural  Som- 
nambulism, says : 

"The  sleep-walker,  when  otherwise  healthy,  falls,  at  a  partic- 
ular period,  into  a  common  sleep,  which  cannot  be  distinguished 
from  the  natural  state  of  repose.  After  a  longer  or  shorter  time 
he  rises  from  his  couch,  and  walks  about  the  room — sometimes 
about  the  house.  He  frequently  goes  out  into  the  open  air,  walks 
upon  known  or  unknown  paths  as  quickly,  and  with  as  much 
activity  and  confidence,  as  in  his  waking  state,  avoids  all  ob- 
stacles which  may  stand,  or  have  been  designedly  placed  in  his 
route,  and  makes  his  way  along  rugged  paths,  and  climbs  danger- 
ous heights,  which  he  would  never  have  thought  of  attempting 
when  awake.  He  reads  printed  and  written  papers,  writes  as 
well  and  correctly  as  in  his  waking  state,  and  performs  many 

156 


APPENDIX.  157 

Other  operations  requiring  light  and  the  natural  use  of  the  eyes. 
All  these  actions,  however,  are  performed  by  the  Somnambulist  in 
complete  darkness  as  well  as  when  awake,  and,  generally,  with 
his  eyes  firmly  closed.  I  shall  afterwards  speak  of  the  exceptions, 
in  which  these  persons  have  their  eyes  open.  When  the  period  of 
his  somnambulism  has  elapsed,  he  returns  to  his  bed,  falls  back 
again  into  his  natural  sleep,  awakes  at  his  usual  hour,  and,  in 
most  instances,  knows  nothing  of  what  he  had  done  in  his  sleep- 
walking state.  At  the  same  time,  there  are  very  few  persons  who 
exhibit  all  of  these  phenomena,  or  even  the  greater  number  of 
them.  For  the  most  part,  they  only  wander  about  without  any 
other  peculiar  manifestation ;  and  the  instances  in  which  several 
of  the  phenomena  in  question  are  exhibited  are  rare.  This  state, 
which  is  found  in  persons  otherwise  healthy,  frequently  occurs 
in  diseases,  especially  in  diseases  of  the  nervous  system.  In  the 
latter  case,  the  afifection  usually  commences  with  a  paroxysm  of 
convulsive  motions,  catalepsy,  apparent  syncope,  and  then  passes 
over  into  a  state  precisely  similar,  so  far  as  regards  the  principal 
symptoms,  to  Somnambulism ;  only  that  in  this  latter  case,  the 
patients  not  only  act,  but  speak,  which  rarely  happens  in  the  for- 
mer. Before  these  patients  are  completely  restored  to  their  ordi- 
nary waking  state,  their  sleep  is  changed  into  a  similar  convulsive 
state,  combined  with  want  of  consciousness. 

"Of  this  species  of  Somnambulism  occurring  in  nervous  dis- 
eases, we  are  in  possession  of  many  curious  instances,  of  which 
the  Aulic  Councillor  Meiners,  a  celebrated  professor  at  Goettingen, 
has  inserted  several  very  remarkable  examples  in  his  instructive 
collection.  In  respect  to  its  chief  characteristics,  this  species  of 
Somnambulism,  occurring  in  nervous  diseases,  completely  resem- 
bles the  natural  crisis ;  it  is  recognized  by  all  competent  judges  as 
of  the  same  kind,  and  is  comprehended  under  the  same 
class  of  diseases ;  and  in  this  view  I  also  consider  it. 
I  begin  with  the  case  in  Moritz's  Magazine,  which  was  first  trans- 
lated by  Mr.  Spalding,  and  afterwards  inserted  by  Meiners  in  his 
collection.  This  is  a  case  of  what  has  been  called  'louping  ague,' 
which,  unquestionably,  is  just  one  instance  of  that  species  of 
Somnambulism  which  I  have  referred  to  as  occasionally  accom- 
panying nervous  diseases.  The  patient  was  a  female  of  sixteen 
years  of  age.  The  paroxysm  attacked  her  in  the  morning,  and 
consisted  of  a  profound  sleep.  In  this  state,  she  would  jump  with 
astonishing  activity  upon  tables  and  chairs,  run,  when  permitted, 
and  with  great  rapidity,  out  of  the  house, — generally  to  a  par- 


158  APPENDIX. 

ticular  place  in  the  neighbourhood ;  and  when  she  did  not  awake, 
she  would  return  immediately,  but  sometimes  by  a  different  road, 
and  in  a  different  direction.  She  not  unfrequently  left  the  high 
road,  and  ran  straight  through  the  fields.  She  never  fell  nor 
injured  herself,  however  rough  her  path  might  be,  or  however 
fast  she  might  run ;  and  her  speed  was  sometimes  so  great,  that 
her  much  stronger  and  more  active  brother  could  not  keep  pace 
with  her.  She  frequently  mounted  upon  the  garden  wall,  upon 
the  uneven  top  of  which  she  continued  to  run ;  nay,  she  even 
went  upon  the  edge  of  the  house  roof  without  once  stumbling, 
much  less  falling.  During  all  these  hazardous  operations,  her 
eyes  were  fast  closed,  and  she  appeared  to  be  deprived  of  all  her 
other  senses." 

The  second  volume  of  Moritz's  Magazine  contains  the  history 
of  a  boy  of  nine  years  of  age,  who  frequently  fell  into  a  species 
of  Somnolency,  during  which  he  was  capable  of  carrying  on  a 
conversation.  His  eyes  were  fast  closed,  but,  notidthstanding 
this  circumstance,  lie  sazv  and  named  all  objects  that  zuere  pre- 
sented to  him. 

A  very  remarkable  case  was  related  to  me  by  a  most  trust- 
worthy observer,  the  late  Hamburgh  Physician,  Dr.  Schulz,  from 
whom  the  Aulic  Counsellor  Meiners,  of  Goettingen,  also  received 
it,  and  inserted  it  in  his  well-known  collection.  It  was  that  of  a 
girl  between  twelve  and  thirteen  years  of  age,  belonging  to  a 
family  of  some  distinction,  who  was  afflicted  with  a  violent  nerv- 
ous complaint,  in  which  strong  convulsive  motions  alternated  with 
catalepsy  and  syncope.  Besides,  she  frequently  had  paroxysms, 
during  which  she  conversed  with  much  liveliness  and  ingenuity. 
In  this  state,  she  distinguished  unthout  difficulty  all  colours  that 
li'cre  presented  to  her,  recognised  the  numbers  of  the  cards,  and 
the  stripes  upon  those  which  were  variegated.  She  described  the 
binding  of  books  when  shozvn  to  her.  She  zcrote  in  the  same 
manner  as  usual,  and  cut  figures  on  paper,  as  she  zmis  accustomed 
to  do  for  pastime  in  her  zvaking  state.  Her  eyes,  at  this  time,  zvere 
firmly  closed;  but  in  order  to  be  assured  that  she  made  no  use  of 
them,  a  bandage  was  placed  over  thon  on  the  approach  of  the  par- 
oxysm. 

Another  very  remarkable  case  will  be  found  in  the  "Breslau 
Medical  Collections."  It  relates  to  a  rope-maker,  who  was  fre- 
quently overtaken  by  sleep,  even  in  the  daytime,  and  in  the  midst 
of  his  usual  occupations.  While  in  this  state,  he  sometimes  recom- 
menced doing  all  that  he  had  been  engaged  in  during  the  previous 


APPENDIX.  159 

part  of  the  day;  at  other  times  he  would  continue  the  work  in 
which  he  happened  to  be  engaged  at  the  commencement  of  the 
paroxysm,  and  finished  his  business  with  as  great  ease  and  success 
as  when  awake.  When  the  fit  overtook  him  in  travelHng,  he 
proceeded  on  his  journey  with  the  same  faciUty,  and  almost 
faster  than  when  awake,  without  missing  the  road  or  stumbling 
over  any  thing.  In  this  manner  he  repeatedly  went  from  Nurem- 
burg  to  Weimar.  Upon  one  of  these  occasions  he  came  into  a 
narrow  lane  where  there  lay  some  timber.  He  passed  over  it 
regularly  without  injury;  and  with  equal  dexterity  he  avoided 
the  horses  and  carriages  that  came  in  his  way.  At  another  time, 
he  was  overtaken  by  sleep  just  as  he  was  about  to  set  out  for 
Weimar  on  horseback.  He  rode  through  the  river  lime,  allowed 
his  horse  to  drink,  and  drew  up  his  legs  to  prevent  them  getting 
wet;  then  passed  through  several  streets,  crossed  the  market- 
place, which  was,  at  that  time,  full  of  people,  carts  and  booths,  and 
arrived  in  safety  at  the  house  of  an  acquaintance,  where  he  awoke. 
These  and  many  similar  acts,  requiring  the  use  of  the  eyes,  he 
performed  in  darkness,  as  well  as  by  daylight.  His  eyes,  hoiuever, 
were  firmly  closed,  and  he  could  not  see  zvhen  they  zuere  forced 
open  and  stimulated  by  light  brought  near  them.  His  other  senses 
appeared  to  be  equally  dormant  as  were  his  eyes.  He  could  not 
smell  the  most  volatile  spirit.  He  felt  nothing  when  pinched, 
pricked,  or  struck.  He  heard  nothing  when  called  by  his  name, 
or  even  when  a  pistol  was  discharged  close  beside  him. 

There  is  another  case,  somewhat  older,  observed  and  circum- 
stantially reported  by  a  trustworthy  physician.  Dr.  Knoll,  which 
equally  deserves  our  attention.  The  subject  of  his  observation 
was  a  young  man,  a  gardener,  who  became  somnambulous,  and 
while  in  that  state  performed  many  extraordinary  operations. 
He  generally  fell  asleep  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and 
then  began  to  utter  devotional  sentences  and  prayers.  After- 
wards he  went  out  of  the  house,  clambered  over  a  high  wooden 
partition,  and  a  still  higher  wall,  uninjured,  passed  through 
several  streets,  and  returned.  At  another  time  he  climbed  up 
to  the  roof  of  the  house,  and  rode  astride  upon  the  gutter,  as  if 
upon  horseback,  clambered  about  for  some  time  upon  the  roof, 
and,  at  length,  descended  in  safety.  With  a  view  to  prevent 
accidents,  he  was  locked  up  in  a  room,  and  watched.  Wlien 
he  became  somnambulous,  at  the  usual  time,  he  began  to  per- 
form all  sorts  of  operations  on  his  clothes  and  the  furniture  of 
the  room.     He  climbed  up  to  the  window  sill,  and  from  thence 


l6o  APPENDIX. 

to  a  stone  which  was  much  higher,  and  at  some  distance,  and 
rode  upon  the  latter,  as  if  upon  a  horse.  The  height  of  the 
stone,  its  distance  from  the  window,  and  its  small  breadth,  were 
such,  that  a  person  awake  would  scarcely  have  ventured  to 
attempt  these  operations.  After  descending  from  the  stone,  he 
knocked  a  large  table  about  hither  and  thither,  and  finding  ii: 
was  likely  to  fall  on  him,  he  very  dexterously  contrived  to  evade 
it.  He  gathered  together  all  the  clothes  he  could  find  in  the 
room,  mixed  them  together,  then  separated  them  carefully,  and 
hung  them  up,  each  article  in  its  proper  place.  The  old  stock- 
ings and  shoes  he  endeavoured  to  arrange  in  pairs,  according 
to  their  shape  and  colour,  as  if  he  actually  saw  them.  He  then 
laid  hold  of  a  needle,  which  he  had  stuck  into  the  wall  some 
weeks  before,  and  sewed  his  small-clothes.  Besides  these,  he 
performed  a  variety  of  other  operations,  all  requiring  light  and 
the  use  of  the  eyes,  zmth  zvhich,  it  zcoiild  appear,  he  zms  enabled 
to  dispense. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  instances,  I  must  here  notice  two 
remarkable  cases,  which  were  both  observed  with  great  ac- 
curacy by  individuals  who  are  elevated  far  above  all  suspicion 
of  credulity,  deceit,  and  imposture.  The  one  is  reported  by 
the  Professor,  and  Aulic  Counsellor,  Feder.  The  subject  of  his 
observations  was  a  student,  who,  during  a  severe  nervous  com- 
plaint, experienced  several  attacks  of  Somnambulism.  Upon 
these  occasions  he  would  go  from  his  bed-room  to  his  parlour 
and  back,  open  and  shut  the  doors,  as  well  as  his  closet,  and  take 
out  of  the  latter  v/hatever  he  wanted — pieces  of  music,  pen,  ink, 
and  paper,  and  all  this  zmth  his  eyes  shut!  From  among  his 
music  he  selected  a  march  from  the  opera  of  Medea,  laid  the 
sheet  in  a  proper  situation  before  him,  and  having  found  the  ap- 
propriate key,  he  played  the  whole  piece  with  his  usual  skill  upon 
the  harpsichord.  In  the  same  manner  he  also  played  one  of 
Bach's  sonatas,  and  gave  the  most  expressive  passages  with  sur- 
prising effect.  One  of  the  persons  present  turned  the  notes  up- 
side down :  this  he  immediately  perceived,  and  when  he  com- 
menced playing,  he  replaced  the  sheet  in  its  proper  position. 
When  playing,  he  remarked  a  string  out  of  tune,  upon  which 
he  stopped,  put  it  in  order,  and  again  proceeded.  He  wrote  a 
letter  to  his  brother,  and  what  he  wrote  was  not  only  perfectly 
rational,  but  straight  and  legible.  While  Professor  Feder  was 
on  a  visit  to  him  one  afternoon,  he  (the  somnambulist)  observed 
that  it  was  snowing,  which  was  actually  the  case.     On  the  same 


APPENDIX.  l6l 

occasion,  notunthstanding  his  eyes  zcerc  still  completely  closed, 
he  remarked  that  the  landlord  of  the  opposite  house  was  stand- 
ing at  the  window,  which  was  true,  and  that  hats  were  hanging 
at  the  window  of  another  room,  which  was  also  the  fact.  He 
opened  Professor  Feder's  Compendium  of  logic  and  metaphysics, 
and  pointed  out  to  him  several  passages  which  he  thought  inter- 
esting, as  also  some  of  his  own  written  notes  of  the  Professor's 
lectures  in  a  volume  which  had  been  recently  bound.  We  must 
observe,  however,  the  remarkable  circumstance — common  to  him, 
indeed,  with  several  other  somnambulists — that  there  were  many 
things  he  did  not  perceive.  Thus,  while  writing  to  his  brother, 
he  did  not  observe  that  there  was  no  more  ink  in  the  pen,  and 
continued  to  write  on.  At  one  time  he  struck  fire,  and  held  the 
tinder  to  his  ear,  as  if  to  hear  the  crackling,  and  then  ascertain 
if  it  was  burning.  He  lighted  a  match,  came  to  the  candle,  and 
held  it  in  the  middle  of  the  flame. 

In  conclusion,  I  may  refer  to  the  case  observed  by  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Bourdeaux,  and  reported  in  the  great  French  Encyclo- 
pedia. It  is  the  case  of  a  young  ecclesiastic,  in  the  same  seminary 
with  the  Archbishop,  who  was  in  the  habit  of  getting  up  during 
the  night  in  a  state  of  Somnambulism,  of  going  to  his  room, 
taking  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  composing  and  writing  sermons. 
When  he  had  finished  one  page  of  the  paper  on  which  he  was 
writing,  he  would  read  over  what  he  had  written  and  correct  it. 
Upon  one  occasion,  he  had  made  use  of  the  expression  ce  diz'iii 
enfant.  In  reading  over  the  passage,  he  changed  the  adjective 
dizfin  into  adorable.  Perceiving,  however,  that  the  pronoun  ce 
could  not  stand  before  the  word  adorable,  he  added  to  the  former 
the  letter  t.  In  order  to  ascertain  whether  .the  somnambulist 
made  really  any  use  of  his  eyes,  the  Archbishop  held  a  piece  of 
pasteboard  under  his  chin,  to  prevent  him  from  seeing  the  paper 
on  which  he  was  writing;  but  he  continued  to  write  on  without 
appearing  to  be  incommoded  in  the  slightest  degree. 

The  paper  on  which  he  was  writing  was  taken  away ;  but 
the  somnambulist  immediately  perceived  the  change.  He  wrote 
pieces  of  music  while  in  this  state,  and  in  the  same  manner  zcitli 
his  eyes  closed.  The  words  were  placed  under  the  musical  notes. 
It  happened,  upon  one  occasion,  that  the  words  were  written  in 
too  large  a  character,  and  did  not  stand  precisely  under  the  corre- 
sponding notes.  He  soon  perceived  the  error,  blotted  out  the 
part,  and  wrote  it  over  again  with  great  exactness. 

I  hope  that  these  examples,  to  which  I  might  add  a  great  many 


l62  APPENDIX. 

others,  will  be  sufficient  to  show  that  the  somnambulist,  during 
this  extraordinary  state,  is  enabled,  apparently  without  the  use 
of  his  eyes,  to  receive  impressions  equally  well,  or,  at  least,  with 
the  same  consequences  to  his  perceptive  faculty,  as  when  awake. 
]\Ir.  Colquhoun,  the  translator  of  Wienholt,  supplies  us  from 
his  extensive  reading,  with  a  number  of  the  best  authenticated 
cases  descriptive  of  the  same  condition  of  things  in  Somnambul- 
ism, and  derangement  of  the  nervous  system  induced  by  Mes- 
merism ;  and  as  this  is  the  only  physical  symptom  of  any  conse- 
quence, described  by  European  Mesmerists,  which  I  have  not 
yet  seen  in  India,  I  hope  that  Mr.  Colquhoun  will  excuse  my 
making  such  free  use  of  his  facts,  in  order  to  complete  this  sub- 
ject. 

The  reporters  of  the  facts  in  question  are,  for  the  most  part, 
men  whose  intellectual  attainments,  in  general,  are  known  to 
have  been  of  a  superior  order,  and  whose  moral  character  is  ele- 
vated far  above  suspicion ;  men,  in  short,  far  more  honourable 
and  trustworthy  than  their  wretched,  chiefly  anonymous,  calumni- 
ators. They  will  be  found  to  be,  principally,  eminent  physicians, 
such  as  Hufeland,  physician  to  the  king  of  Prussia;  Steiglitz, 
physician  to  the  king  of  Hanover ;  Brandis,  physician  to  the  king 
of  Denmark ;  Klein,  physician  to  the  king  of  Wirtemberg ;  Wien- 
holt ;  Olbers,  the  astronomer ;  Gmelin  ;  Heinecken ;  Bockman  ; 
Baehrens ;  Ennemmoser ;  Sprengel,  author  of  a  history  of  medi- 
cine, and  other  learned  works;  Haindorf;  Nolte ;  Spindler ; 
Nasse  ;  Nees  von  Esenbeck  ;  Passavant ;  Ziermann  ;  Heinroth  ; 
Leupoldt,  &c. — Physiologists,  such  as  Reil ;  Treviranus ;  Auten- 
rieth  ;  Humboldt;  Burdach  ;  Eschenmayer;  Kieser,  &c. — Natural- 
ists, such  as  La  Place,  Cuvier,  Oken,  &c. — Philosophers,  such  as 
Fichte,  Schelling,  Steffens,  Baader,  Hegel,  &c. — Theologians, 
such  as  Schleicrmacher.  Mayer,  &c.  To  these  might  be  added 
a  vast  number  of  men  of  general  science,  and  celebrated  literary 
characters.  The  French  magnetists — Puysegur,  Dcleuze, 
Bertrand,  Georget,  Cuvier,  Despine,  Rostan,  Husson,  Filassicr, 
Foissac,  Gauthier,  Teste,  &c. — constitute  a  perfect  host. 

But  it  has  been  alleged  that  the  evidence  of  these  enlightened 
individuals  is  liable  to  discredit,  because,  forsooth,  they  were 
engaged  in  investigating  the  phenomena  of  animal  magnetism. 
Assuredly,  this  is  a  strange,  and  we  must  take  the  liberty  of 
saying,  a  most  preposterous  objection.  Pray,  how  are  the  facts 
of  nature  to  be  discovered  and  appreciated,  unless  by  those  who 
take  an  interest  in  investigating:  them?     Arc  the  facts  of  chem- 


APPKNOTX.  163 

istry  to  be  discredited,  because  they  have  been  discovered  by 
chemists?  And  is  the  same  ultra  sceptical  test  to  be  appHed  to 
electricity,  galvanism,  astronomy,  and  general  physics?  Are 
no  facts  to  be  relied  upon  as  genuine,  but  such  as  may  happen 
to  be  adduced  by  ignorant  and  unskilful  persons,  who  have  neither 
the  requisite  talent,  nor  the  disposition  for  investigation,  and 
v/ho  are,  moreover,  careless  and  indifferent  to  the  results  ? 

The  Author,  then,  feels  no  hesitation  in  appealing  to  the  ex- 
perience of  the  most  eminent  magnetists,  in  confirmation  of  the 
fact  which,  as  we  have  seen,  has  been  manifested  in  many  in- 
stances, of  the  natural  Somnambulism ;  but  in  order  to  deprive 
the  most  obdurate  sceptics  of  every  pretence  for  denying  the 
reality  of  the  fact  in  question,  we  shall  proceed  to  the  brief  enum- 
eration of  cases,  in  which  the  controverted  phenomenon  was  dis- 
tinctly and  unequivocally  manifested. 

Dr.  Tritschler's  somnambulist — a  boy  of  thirteen  years  of 
age — saw  and  recognised  the  numbers  and  pictures  on  cards, 
when  introduced  under  the  bedcover,  and  placed  upon  his  stom- 
ach, in  complete  darkness,  and  covered,  moreover,  by  the  hand 
of  the  magnetiser.  The  same  recognition  took  place  in  the  case 
of  written  notes. 

Madame  Millet,  magnetised  by  Van  Ghert,  saw  her  phy- 
sician's hand  and  finger  by  means  of  the  epigastrium.  At  a  later 
period  she  recognised,  in  a  similar  manner,  some  portraits.  At 
last  she  became  so  clairvoyante  as  to  be  able  to  read,  by  means 
of  the  epigastrium,  at  the  distance  of  a  foot  and  a  half. 

Miss  St.,  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Lehmann,  accurately  distin- 
guished the  colours  of  cards  by  means  of  the  epigastrium. 
Kieser's  epileptic  boy  read  fluently  by  means  of  the  pit  of  the 
stomach.  Maria  Rubel,  in  Langenberg,  read  sealed  letters  by 
means  of  the  epigastrium ;  nay,  even  written  characters  envel- 
oped in  a  covering  of  double  linen.  De  Valenti's  patient  de- 
scribed the  ornamental  devices  on  his  watch ;  she  also  recognised 
the  picture  of  a  soldier  placed  on  her  stomach.  In  many  other 
patients  the  functions  of  other  organs  were  also  manifested  at 
the  epigastrium.  Dr.  Joseph  Frank's  patient,  Louisa  Baerk- 
mann,  recognised  and  felt  the  taste  of  sugared  water  at  the  epigas- 
tric region,  and  heard  at  the  same  place.  A  servant  girl,  mag- 
netised by  De  Valenti,  also  heard  at  the  epigastrium.  Dr.  Klein's 
patient  said,  "This  is  very  comical — I  hear  by  means  of  my 
stomach;"  and  she  laughed  aloud  at  the  singularity  of  the  phe- 


164  APPF.XDIX. 

nomenon.  Her  ears  having  been  stopt,  she  said,  "That  is  of 
no  use ;  I  hear  with  this,"  pointing  to  her  stomach. 

In  the  case  of  other  somnambulists,  the  common  sense  seemed 
to  be  transferred  to  the  points  of  the  fingers,  as  in  the  case  of 
Miss  M'Evoy,  of  Liverpool,  Professor  Kieser's  patient,  Anthony 
Arst,  read  with  his  forefinger,  and  distinguished  cards  in  the 
same  manner.  Nay,  when  he  held  his  elbow  out  of  the  window, 
he  saw  every  thing  in  the  street  to  the  distance  of  150  paces. 
Van  Chert's  somnambulist  saw  by  the  means  of  the  fingers;  as 
also  Madame  Millet  and  Maria  Rubel,  formerly  noticed,  and 
Dr.  Durr's  patient.  An  idio-somnambulic  boy  at  Halmstadt,  in 
Holland,  read  fluently  by  means  of  his  breast  and  fingers.  Dr. 
Meyer's  patient,  at  Dulken  in  Rhenish  Prussia,  heard  with  the 
points  of  his  fingers.  One  of  Dr.  Kerner's  somnambulists  heard 
sometimes  with  her  fingers,  sometimes  with  every  part  of  her 
body.  Articles  of  food  she  tasted  with  her  fingers,  as  with  her 
mouth.  The  second  somnambulist,  mentioned  in  the  work  re- 
ferred to,  saw  only  when  she  placed  her  finger  on  the  pit  of  the 
stomach,  or  on  the  crown  of  the  head.  She  sometimes  heard, 
smelt,  and  saw  with  the  point  of  the  middle  finger. 

Other  cases  are  recorded  in  which  the  patients  saw  and  heard 
with  the  nose,  the  chin,  the  elbows,  the  knees,  the  toes,  and  all 
the  prominent  parts  of  the  body.  Augusta  Miller  of  Carlsruhe 
saw  with  her  forehead,  her  eyelids,  and  her  eye-brows.  Dr. 
Werner  mentions,  as  a  singular  peculiarity,  that  his  somnambul- 
ist possessed  the  power  of  changing  the  focus  of  vision  at  pleas- 
ure. In  some  cases,  it  would  appear,  the  whole  body  becomes  as 
it  were  clairvoyant.  This  was  the  case  with  Dr.  Heinecken's 
patient  at  Bremen,  who  saw  without  the  assistance  of  the  eyes, 
or  of  any  other  special  organ ;  and  she  expressly  declared  that 
such  somnambulists  were  much  more  clairvoyant  than  those  whose 
perceptive  faculties  were  localised.  Hence  the  somnambulists  are 
frequently  unable  to  give  any  adequate  description  of  these 
metastases  of  the  perceptive  faculties  and  the  species  of  percep- 
tion, in  these  cases,  might,  perhaps,  be  more  properly  denominated 
feeling,  than  actual  sight,  hearing,  &c.  It  is  worthy  of  remark, 
too,  that  the  perceptions  of  these  somnambulists,  in  general,  are 
much  more  vivid,  acute,  and  delicate,  than  in  the  waking  state. 

The  foregoing  observations,  it  is  presumed,  must  be  sufficient 
to  convince  every  candid  and  unprejudiced  mind  of  the  existence 
in  certain  states  of  the  organism,  of  the  phenomenon  of  sensible 
perception,  without  the  use  of  the  appropriate  organs. 


APPF-xnix.  165 

Here,  then  we  have  a  body  of  evidence  in  support  of  the  ex- 
istence of  natural  and  artificial  "clairvoyance,"  given  by  the  same 
description  of  persons;  physicians  of  eminence  and  unimpeached 
honour,  a  body  of  men  who,  perhaps  more  than  the  members  of 
any  other  profession,  are  dependent  on  their  characters  as  the 
means  of  winning-  daily  bread.  It  appears  to  me,  that  there  is  no 
ground  for  preferring  the  evidence  of  one  set  of  witnesses  to 
the  other,  and  that  both  are  by  their  character  and  knowledge 
eminently  entitled  to  our  belief,  unless  we  reject  all  human 
testimony,  declare  clairvoyance  to  be  a  subject  on  which  it  is  use- 
less to  accumulate  facts  and  evidence,  and  "taboo"  its  considera- 
tion by  the  human  mind. 

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